[ad_1]
After the malfunction of its remaining spare gyroscopes, the Hubble Space Telescope went into safe mode while ground control scientists determine what to do next. NASA recently reported that the space observatory had resumed normal operations. ( NASA )
The Hubble Space Telescope resumed normal operations two weeks after the malfunction of one of the onboard gyroscopes.
NASA announced on Saturday (October 27th) that the nearly 30-year-old observatory had been put out of danger. He also completed his first scientific observation since the malfunction, collecting data on a distant galaxy forming stars, DSF2237B-1-IR, over the weekend.
What happened with the Hubble Space Telescope?
The Hubble Space Telescope broadcast began on October 6 when one of the three gyroscopes used failed. However, this was not a problem because the spacecraft is equipped with six gyroscopes, three of which are supposed to be stored in such situations.
Unfortunately, two other gyroscopes have failed in the past, leaving a last stored gyroscope. In the event of a malfunction of the latter emergency gyroscope, NASA had to switch the Hubble Space Telescope into safe mode.
A gyroscope is important for the operations of the space observatory. The instrument is responsible for the stabilization and orientation of the telescope in a certain direction for long periods of observation.
The emergency gyroscope, while operating, gave inaccurate turn rates. Since two weeks. ground control scientists used basic troubleshooting techniques, including turning the instrument off and on again, to solve the problem. Fortunately, the gyroscope produced normal rotation rates last week, giving NASA the impression that the space observatory is ready to resume normal operations.
The US Space Agency said the Hubble is currently operating with three gyroscopes and is expected to be operational for the next decade or more. The telescope has experienced similar problems in the past, but in 2009 space shuttle astronauts installed six new gyroscopes in the orbiting observatory.
Chandra also back to normal
The Chandra X-ray observatory, which also went into safe mode a few days after Hubble, also resumed normal operations. On October 21, NASA officials said the problem had been resolved and the space observatory had returned to work.
The space agency has also identified a problem of pointing and orientation of the spacecraft. His gyroscope did not work as expected.
To solve the problem, the ground control scientists activated a new configuration for the gyroscope of the spacecraft. NASA will continue to observe and adjust the performance of the gyroscope configuration if necessary.
Ⓒ 2018 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
[ad_2]
Source link
