NASA's Voyager spacecraft carry records loaded with music and photos, to explain our world to aliens

Over the past few decades — and more aggressively in recent years — NASA's been slowly shutting down non-essential instruments on its Voyager spacecraft, to save power.

If all goes well, it could stay energized until about 2030. But after that, the spacecraft will likely be on their own, which scientists planned for.

If all goes well, it could stay energized until about 2030. But after that, the spacecraft will likely be on their own, which scientists planned for.

When Voyager 1 and 2 launched into space in 1977, each carried on board a golden record —

an interstellar collection of human sounds and images meant to represent life on Earth for any alien civilization that might come across it.

Over the decades, the twin probes hurtled through space at a rate of 35,000 miles per hour, sending back detailed views of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and their moons