Data downlink from Voyager 2 lost due to a pointing error on its antenna: https://blogs.nasa.gov/sunspot/2023/07/28/mission-update-voyager-2-communications-pause/
Although if I understand this correctly, the carrier is still detectable - it's just faint enough that the modulation isn't.
The spacecraft is expected to automatically repoint in mid-October.
Voyager 2 was able to receive the "repoint now" command.
QT @canberradsn
2023 August 4
Two-way communications have been restored with #Voyager2
The good news was received through our 70-metre antenna dish, Deep Space Station 43 at 2:29pm AEST, 4th August. #DSS43
Attached: 1 image How can Voyager 2 decode a signal when its antenna is mispointed by 2°? The graphic below shows the "antenna pattern" of the Voyager antenna. Most of the downlink energy is located in the narrow main lobe, but there is some energy in the side lobes too. The graphic shows 2 such sidelobes. The uplink signal strength has similar but wider lobes, so it is possible for V2 to decode a high power signal from the DSN at a 2° offset. Here's hoping that it does 🤞 https://descanso.jpl.nasa.gov/DPSummary/Descanso4--Voyager_new.pdf #Voyager 2/n
@AkaSci @barrygoldman1 @canberradsn Normal uplink to Voyager 2 is about 20 kW. The high-power uplink transmitter can be run up to 100 kW in routine operations; and up to the full 400 kW with clearance for special circumstances given that the spacecraft is high enough in the sky that the sidelobes of the antenna do not cause too much RFI for the airport and other radio operators in the ACT.
I do not know the actual transmit power used in the recovery.
Michael Busch
Barry Goldman
AkaSci 🛰️