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Forty years and still going strong
From http://www.astronomy.com/news/2018/07/forty-years-and-still-going-strong
Forty years and still going strong
The functioning instruments aboard the Voyager spacecraft
By Doug Adler | Published: Monday, July 2, 2018
This artist's concept depicts one of the Voyager spacecraft crossing the solar system's boundary into interstellar space. Though these spacecraft launched decades ago, many of their instruments remain functional.
NASA/JPL-Caltech
Launched in 1977, the unmanned space probes Voyager 1 and 2 carried out an extensive survey of the planets and moons of the outer solar system. Visiting Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, the Voyager program can only be called an unqualified success on virtually every level. The twin spacecraft returned thousands of photographs and reams of scientific data that fundamentally changed our understanding of our entire solar system. Currently in interstellar space, Voyager 1 is the farthest man-made object from Earth. Voyager 2 is near the edge of our solar system and will one day also enter interstellar space.
Many people are unaware that even after over 40 years, both probes are still actively generating scientific data and transmitting it to Earth. Although many of the instruments installed on Voyager 1 and 2 have been deactivated or have failed, several continue to function. Powered by nuclear radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs), both probes should be able to continue to operate for several more years.
Currently operating instruments aboard the Voyagers include:
...
The functioning instruments aboard the Voyager spacecraft
By Doug Adler | Published: Monday, July 2, 2018
This artist's concept depicts one of the Voyager spacecraft crossing the solar system's boundary into interstellar space. Though these spacecraft launched decades ago, many of their instruments remain functional.
NASA/JPL-Caltech
Launched in 1977, the unmanned space probes Voyager 1 and 2 carried out an extensive survey of the planets and moons of the outer solar system. Visiting Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, the Voyager program can only be called an unqualified success on virtually every level. The twin spacecraft returned thousands of photographs and reams of scientific data that fundamentally changed our understanding of our entire solar system. Currently in interstellar space, Voyager 1 is the farthest man-made object from Earth. Voyager 2 is near the edge of our solar system and will one day also enter interstellar space.
Many people are unaware that even after over 40 years, both probes are still actively generating scientific data and transmitting it to Earth. Although many of the instruments installed on Voyager 1 and 2 have been deactivated or have failed, several continue to function. Powered by nuclear radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs), both probes should be able to continue to operate for several more years.
Currently operating instruments aboard the Voyagers include:
Plasma Spectrometer (PLS):
Functioning only on Voyager 2
...
More at link.
3 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
= new reply since forum marked as read
Some of the tolerances are very tight, and the parts are usually complex and time consuming to make. But, when the machinists grumble I say "well, you know, it HAS to work, otherwise the whole thing is a waste".
Sometimes a mention the Voyager probes as an example.
They just don't like a) metric, and b) surface profile callouts on drawings. 
