How engineers remotely repaired a 50-year-old spacecraft stranded in deep space

When Voyager 1 stopped sending usable data in 2023, engineers faced a daunting challenge: fix a computer system designed five decades ago. This video details the unprecedented, manual process of developing a software patch to restore communication with the probe across interstellar distances.

In November 2023, Voyager 1 ceased transmitting meaningful telemetry, though it remained responsive to commands from Earth. The recovery effort required engineers to devise novel solutions, including writing and debugging software for the probe's ancient onboard computer using only pen and paper. This process, informed by the work of Bruce Waggoner and David Cummings, highlights the extreme technical ingenuity required to maintain hardware operating far beyond its original design lifespan.

Source: The First Interstellar Software Update - The Insane Hack That Saved Voyager 1