NASA Identifies ‘Possible Cause’ of Hubble Telescope Problem

The Hubble recovery team believe they have finally found an issue that kept the Space Telescope from functioning for more than a month.

The problem started on June 13, when an on-board computer suddenly shut down. As a result, all of Hubble’s science instruments went into safe mode, and have been so ever since. The telescope is otherwise fine, but normal operations have been suspended.

The problem is with the payload computer, which controls and monitors Hubble’s science instruments. It’s the most serious glitch plagued Hubble for years, raising fears that the aging telescope is finally done. Launched in 1990, Hubble has made over 1.5 million observations and has contributed significantly to our understanding of the solar system, galaxies, and the universe in general.

Hubble’s recovery team have tried all kinds of testing over the past few weeks (a list of actions taken can be viewed here), in the same way tries to restart and reconfigure the payload computer, but nothing worked. The data gathered during these attempts has now led the team to determine that the “possible cause” of the problem has something to do with the Power Control Unit (PCU) located on the Control and Processing Unit. data from the telescope’s scientific instrument, according to at NASA.

The PCU supplies power to the payload computer. Equipped with a power regulator, the PCU supplies constant 5 volt electricity to both the payload computer and its memory modules. As NASA explains:

A secondary protection circuit detects voltage levels leaving the power regulator. If the voltage drops below or exceeds allowable levels, this secondary circuit signals the payload computer to cease operations. The team’s analysis suggests that either the voltage level of the regulator is outside the acceptable levels (thus triggering the secondary protection circuit), or the secondary protection circuit has degraded over time and is stuck in this. inhibition state.

The commands to reset the PCU didn’t work, so it’s probably stuck. In response, NASA management approved a plan to switch to backup hardware. This rescue operation is due to start today and could take a few days.

Hubble has experienced a plethora of issues over the years, but NASA always seems to be finding a way to bring the telescope back. Hubble may be old, but it is expected to remain in service until the 2030s. If all goes well and Hubble returns to service, it could serve alongside the upcoming James Webb Space Telescope, which is program to be launched later this year.