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Science Mission Directorate | Science

Science Mission Directorate | Science

After 47 years in space, Voyager 1’s thrusters are clogged with silicon dioxide

Science Mission Directorate | Science
Summary
Nutrition label

81% Informative

Engineers working on NASA 's Voyager 1 probe have successfully mitigated an issue with the spacecraft’s thrusters.

After 47 years , a fuel tube inside the thrusters has become clogged with silicon dioxide, a byproduct that appears with age from a rubber diaphragm in the spacecraft's fuel tank.

After weeks of careful planning, the team switched the spacecraft to a different set of thrusters, which are fueled by liquid hydrazine.

VR Score

87

Informative language

89

Neutral language

66

Article tone

informal

Language

English

Language complexity

54

Offensive language

not offensive

Hate speech

not hateful

Attention-grabbing headline

not detected

Known propaganda techniques

not detected

Time-value

medium-lived

Source diversity

1

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