NASA Hubble Space Telescope Suspends Science Due To Glitch

[Elderberry]

Forbes by Amanda Kooser 4/26/2024

It’s not easy being a 34-year-old space telescope. NASA is troubleshooting an issue with the elderly Hubble Space Telescope that has put a pause on science operations. The space agency described the glitch as an “ongoing gyroscope (gyro) issue” in a statement on Friday.

The telescope went into safe mode on April 23. Safe mode is a protective mode that Hubble enters when it encounters a technical problem. It gives NASA a chance to diagnose and work on the glitch, but it also means Hubble isn’t sending back any new science data. There is some good news, though. “Hubble’s instruments are stable, and the telescope is in good health,” the agency said.

The gyros help Hubble point in the right direction. Three of Hubble’s six gyroscopes are operational, but one of those three gave faulty readings that triggered the safe mode. The same gyro previously sent the telescope into safe mode in November, so it’s a lingering problem. “The team is currently working to identify potential solutions,” NASA said. “If necessary, the spacecraft can be re-configured to operate with only one gyro, with the other remaining gyro placed in reserve.”

More: https://www.forbes.com/sites/amandakooser/2024/04/26/nasa-hubble-space-telescope-suspends-science-due-to-glitch/?sh=e4ddafcb8d9c

[Elderberry]

Hubble glitch renews talk about private servicing mission

SPACE NEWS by Jeff Foust December 2, 2023

A problem with the Hubble Space Telescope has renewed discussion about whether and how NASA might approve a private mission to reboost and potentially repair the spacecraft.

NASA announced Nov. 29 that Hubble was in a safe mode because of a problem with one of its three operational gyroscopes. That gyro first triggered a safe mode Nov. 19 when it provided what NASA described as faulty readings. Spacecraft controllers restored operations of Hubble, only to see problems again Nov. 21 and 23.

The agency said in the statement that engineers were studying the problem and did not estimate when science operations would resume. Hubble can operate with just a single gyro, although with some loss of productivity, such as the inability to perform some solar system observations.

Hubble has six gyros, which were installed on the fifth and final shuttle servicing mission in 2009. Three of the six have since malfunctioned.

The news of this latest, temporary problem with Hubble prompted a response from Jared Isaacman, the billionaire backing the Polaris program of SpaceX private astronaut missions. “Put us in coach,” he posted on social media.

That was a reference to a study announced in September 2022 involving Isaacman, SpaceX and NASA to study the feasibility of a private mission to reboost and possibly repair Hubble using SpaceX’s Crew Dragon. At the time Isaacman suggested that a Hubble mission could be the second of three planned Polaris missions.

More: https://spacenews.com/hubble-glitch-renews-talk-about-private-servicing-mission/

[Smokin Joe]

Why not fix it? Seems like a good idea to me.

[Elderberry]

 

That's why I drug up that old article.

[Gefn]

Fix it. Please fix it.

Some of the most beautiful photos I have ever seen have been taken by Hubble.