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Glitching Hubble Puts Science Missions on Hold

Nov 30, 2023 - gizmodo.com
The Hubble Space Telescope, launched by NASA in 1990, has entered safe mode due to a technical issue with one of its gyroscopes. The gyroscope, which is crucial for measuring the telescope's turn rates and ensuring it's pointing in the right direction, has been generating glitchy readings, leading to a temporary halt in the telescope's science operations. Despite the issue, NASA has stated that the telescope's instruments remain stable and it is in overall good health.

NASA's team is currently running tests to understand the issue and develop possible solutions, including the possibility of reconfiguring the spacecraft to operate with just one gyroscope. The space agency anticipates that the telescope will recover from this setback and continue to work in tandem with other observatories, such as the James Webb Space Telescope, extending Hubble's ongoing contribution to our understanding of the cosmos.

Key takeaways:

  • The Hubble Space Telescope entered safe mode on November 23 due to an issue with one of its gyroscopes, suspending its science operations.
  • NASA is not overly concerned about the issue, stating that the telescope's instruments remain stable and the overall health of the telescope is good.
  • The operations team at NASA is running tests to understand the issue better and develop potential solutions, including the possibility of operating the spacecraft with just one gyroscope.
  • NASA anticipates that the Hubble Space Telescope will recover from this setback and continue to work in tandem with other observatories, such as the James Webb Space Telescope, throughout this decade and possibly into the next.
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