Voyager 2's Lifeline: A Glimpse into the Ephemeral Nature of Human Endeavor The latest software update for NASA's Voyager 2 spacecraft has extended its lifespan, but this temporary reprieve highlights the transience of human endeavor.
Launched in 1977 with a mission to explore our solar system, Voyager 2 has been in space for nearly five decades and has outlived its original purpose.
Voyager 2's power source is a radioisotope thermoelectric generator (RTG), which converts heat from decaying plutonium into electricity.