Hubble Space Telescope unexpectedly enters Safe Mode

The Hubble Space Telescope takes the senior satellite equivalent of a day of mental health. The godfather of all observatories in orbit “went into safe mode due to an onboard software error” around 1 a.m. Sunday.

“All scientific systems appear normal and Hubble is secure and stable,” NASA wrote on Twitter.

At approximately 4:00 a.m. EST on Sunday, the Hubble Space Telescope entered Safe Mode due to an onboard software error. All scientific systems appear to be normal, and Hubble is secure and stable. The team is working on plans to return it safely to normal science operations. pic.twitter.com/6JlSSHisLd

– Hubble (@NASAHubble) March 8, 2021

NASA hopes they can fix the software problem from the ground up and return the telescope to normal space operations.

Hubble has overcome much more serious problems in the past. In 2018, he entered extended safe mode following the failure of a gyroscope, which is a device for measuring the speed of rotation of the spacecraft. The Hubble team managed to switch to a backup gyroscope and get Hubble up and running after a failure of a few weeks.

Hubble is already well beyond its expected lifespan, which was set at 15 years. We are now in the 30th year of operation. NASA would ideally like to see it last at least a little longer until the deployment of its successor, the next-generation James Webb Space Telescope.

The James Webb Telescope has been delayed several times, but is now ready to launch this halloween.

Get well soon, Hubble!

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