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Concerns have invaded the astronomical community this weekend when NASA announced that the Hubble Space Telescope was in safe mode – but NASA confirmed in a statement released yesterday (Oct. 8) that the agency was not in a safe mode. Expected that the instrument would soon be operational again.
Hubble has orbited the Earth since 1990 and over these decades has completely changed our understanding of the universe around us. (This also kept us well stocked with astronomical eye candy.)
"Hubble's instruments are still fully operational and are expected to produce excellent scientific data for years to come," NASA said.
NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has been in orbit since 1990.
Credit: NASA
The telescope went into safe mode due to a failure of one of the gyroscopes of the instrument, which steers Hubble and guarantees him a stable view of the space. According to NASA's statement, the failed gyroscope has been down for about a year.
"The failed gyroscope had end-of-life behavior for about a year and its failure was not unexpected.Two other gyroscopes of the same type have already failed," NASA officials said. "The other three gyroscopes available are technically improved and should therefore last much longer."
Hubble has won a total of six gyroscopes – three standard and three upgraded – since their installation by astronauts during an outing in space in 2009, usually using three at a time. The dead gyroscope is the third standard to fail.
But when telescope operators tipped the instrument over the three improved gyroscopes, one of them did not work as well as it should have been. This is the mistake that engineers are trying to correct now, with the instrument in safe mode that allows them to perform tests.
Even if this gyro remains down, Hubble can get back to work. Even though it works best with three gyroscopes, the telescope can run on one without losing too much scientific power.
Email Meghan Bartels at [email protected] or follow her. @meghanbartels. follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com.
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