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The venerable The Hubble Space Telescope is recovering from a problem that interrupted its science operations over the weekend, according to NASA.
The telescope unexpectedly entered “safe mode” Sunday morning (March 7), blocking scientific observations from the observatory due to an apparent software problem. Scientific operations resumed Thursday evening (March 11). While Hubble is partially back to work, NASA is still troubleshooting a 30-year-old telescope instrument, according to a statement released Friday (March 12).
“The telescope has completed its first observation since returning to science mode, using the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph instrument to map gas flows in active galactic nuclei,” NASA officials said written in the statement. “Wide-field camera 3 remains suspended as the team investigates a low voltage issue that has prevented it from resuming operations.” The Wide Field Camera 3, or WFC3, was installed in 2009 during NASA’s last maintenance mission to Hubble by astronauts.
Related: The best Hubble Space Telescope images ever!
The WFC3 issue was an “unexpected error,” according to NASA, that occurred when the telescope went from safe mode to pre-science after the team fixed the initial software issue. NASA did not provide any additional details on the camera, noting only that “the team is currently examining this problem and possible solutions.”
The software issue stems from a recent telescope code change intended to resolve the Hubble issue. gyroscope problems, continues the statement. Hubble uses gyroscopes to point correctly in order to lock onto scientific targets during observations. The telescope has six gyroscopes, but only three are still functioning after three decades in orbit. For now, the Hubble team is blocking this improvement; later, engineers will adjust it for future use.
While the telescope was in safe mode, the team identified another problem with the spacecraft. The telescope sports a door on its top that can automatically block light and heat from the sun in case Hubble accidentally turns in the direction of the star. The door has not been commissioned in this manner to date, according to NASA, but it is supposed to close when the telescope goes into safe mode. Engineers now believe they solved the problem by switching the door to rely on its back-up motor.
The Hubble Space Telescope launched in April 1990; The astronauts made five separate visits to repair and modernize the observatory using NASA’s fleet of space shuttles, the most recent in 2009. Since these vehicles retired in 2011, Hubble has been self-sufficient.
Still, NASA is convinced that the iconic telescope still has a lot of work to do. “Hubble’s instruments are expected to produce groundbreaking science for years to come,” the statement said.
Email Meghan Bartels at [email protected] or follow her on Twitter @meghanbartels. follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook.
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