Nasa has taken a difficult but necessary step to keep Voyager 1 operating: shutting down one of its long-running science instruments, as the spacecraft runs critically low on power. The decision, carried out on April 17 by engineers at Jet Propulsion Laboratory, aimed to extend the life of the nearly 49-year-old probe, which continues to send back rare data from beyond the solar system. Launched in 1977, Voyager 1 is one of the most important space missions ever undertaken. It was originally sent to study the outer planets, including Jupiter and Saturn, but it went far beyond its initial goal. Today, it is the most distant human-made object in space, travelling through interstellar space at high speed. Its role has evolved. Currently, Voyager 1 serves as an asset for scientists to learn more about interstellar space conditions and the heliosphere, the area where the Sun has no influence.…