NASA engineers are working to keep the Voyager mission alive as it cruises through interstellar space, opting to shut down components of the spacecraft to save power. Engineers at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) sent commands to Voyager 1 to shut off one of its science instruments after the spacecraft’s power levels fell unexpectedly. Out of the 10 instruments on board Voyager 1, only two are still operating as the mission team figures out new ways to keep the spacecraft alive for longer. “While shutting down a science instrument is not anybody’s preference, it is the best option available,” Kareem Badaruddin, Voyager mission manager at JPL, said in a statement . Forced shutdown In late February, Voyager 1’s power levels dropped during a routine roll maneuver. The Voyager team had to act fast; any additional drop in power could trigger a safeguard system that would begin shutting down components on its own. Voyager is powered by heat from decaying plutonium that is converted into electricity.…