Both Voyager probes run on radioisotope thermoelectric generators, or devices that convert the heat provided by decaying plutonium into electricity. A Big Bang to save Voyager 1’s mission is next on the team’s list. A big win for Voyager 2Given the age and distance of the Voyager probes, every step that engineers take to care for them is carefully calculated. The Voyager team took steps in May and June to test that the Big Bang wouldn’t draw more power than expected or lower temperatures beyond acceptable limits. The team carried out a successful power test on Voyager 1 at the end of July.