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The Hubble telescope lost its main instrument – Wide Field Camera 3 – due to an unspecified hardware problem. NASA engineers, however, are unlikely to immediately solve the satellite's problems because of the government's shutdown.
Hubble's big-screen camera 3 stopped working on Tuesday, tweeted NASA. The telescope continues to work with other instruments while the "anomaly" is studied.
At 5:23 pm, the wide-field camera 3 suspended its operations due to a hardware problem. Hubble will continue to do science with its other instruments while the Wide Field Camera 3 anomaly is studied: https://t.co/ETEDYPwDtd
– Hubble (@NASAHubble) January 9, 2019 г.
The failure of the wide-field camera 3 may not have left Hubble without its main tool at all times, as the system has an emergency electronic system that can be activated in the event of a critical malfunction. Until now, it is difficult to know when (and if) the camera will be repaired.
The current shutdown of the government could throw a key in the works. NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in the Maryland Greenbelt, where Hubble's mission is operating, is closed. In fact, only a handful of employees actively using the telescope is allowed to work.
Thomas Zurbuchen, Chief Executive Officer of NASA's Science Mission, m said ventilation highlights the importance of the "A team of passionate experts" working with Hubble, proving once again that all space systems have a limited life.
Hubble was launched in orbit in 1990 and has received several updates since. The last maintenance mission took place in 2009, when she received the camera that was malfunctioning now, as well as other upgrades. The maintenance missions were carried out by space shuttles and ended because of the cancellation of the shuttle program.
The lack of proper maintenance has had adverse consequences on the telescope, which has recently been affected by technical problems. Last October, Hubble ceased operations for three weeks due to problems with its gyroscopes. The telescope packs six, but three have already broken down over the years.
If another breaks, Hubble will only work on one, while the second one will be put in reserve. This would leave the telescope effectively blocked and unable to perform certain maneuvers.
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