Glitching Hubble Puts Science Missions on Hold

NASA is address an matter with a Hubble Space Telescope gyroscope that prompted the observatory to enter safe style on November 23 . Science operations have been debar as a result , but the place agency does n’t seem too worried .

Hubble , launch on April 24 , 1990 , and renowned for its important contributions to astronomy , is experience a technical consequence with one of its gyroscopes , agree to a NASAstatement . The space scope , operate on in low Earth orbit , automatically come in safe mode on November 23 . This refuge protocol , which gets triggered when the gyro generate glitchy readings , has put a temporary halt to the scope ’s scientific discipline operation . The gyroscope is crucial for measure the telescope ’s go rates and see it ’s pointing in the desired focus .

NASA is not sound any kind of serious alarm on the matter , saying Hubble ’s cat’s-paw remain stable and the scope is in overall good health . The blank scope has a history of emphasize out its operations team , but it ’s managed to bounce back each clip . The telescope experienced similar good mode events in2008,2018 , and2019 . Most recently , Hubble overcame amajor computer glitch in June 2021and another software issue in the first place that year .

Open Cluster NGC 1858, as imaged by Hubble in 2022.

Open Cluster NGC 1858, as imaged by Hubble in 2022.Image: NASA, ESA and G. Gilmore (University of Cambridge); Processing: Gladys Kober (NASA/Catholic University of America)

Hubble ’s operations team ab initio manage to go back the spacecraft and resume observations after it entered safe modal value on November 19 . However , the unstable gyroscope led to the suspension of science operations again on November 21 , followed by another entry into secure modality on November 23 .

The team at NASA is presently running tests to better understand the issue and develop potential solution . If necessary , the spacecraft can be reconfigured tooperate with just one gyroscope . This tractableness stems from the induction of six young gyro during Hubble ’s 5th and terminal quad shuttle service mission in 2009 . Out of these , three remain operational , including the one currently expose fluctuations . While Hubble operates most expeditiously using three gyroscopes , it can continue its scientific reflection with only one if required .

NASA expect that the telescope will not only retrieve from this setback but also continue to exercise in tandem with other lookout station , such as the James Webb Space Telescope . This collaboration is expected to gallop throughout this decade and possibly into the next , ensure Hubble ’s on-going contribution to our intellect of the cosmos .

In 2009’s Servicing Mission 4, NASA astronaut Mike Massimino replaced all gyroscopes in Hubble’s Rate Sensor Units.