NASA has successfully resolved the gyro issue that temporarily halted science operations on the Hubble Space Telescope. The telescope, which automatically entered safe mode on November 19th due to a gyro failure, experienced repeated interruptions in the subsequent days. Engineers at NASA addressed the problem, and the Hubble is back in operation, resuming science observations.
The gyro issue affected the telescope’s guidance and aiming system, prompting the Hubble to enter safe mode multiple times. While the Wide Field Camera 3 and Advanced Camera for Surveys have resumed science observations, the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph and Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph are expected to come online later in December.
The Hubble Space Telescope, launched in 1990, has been a cornerstone of astronomical research for over three decades. Despite encountering gyro-related challenges in the past, engineers have successfully extended its operational life, with expectations that the telescope will continue into the 2030s.
The Hubble’s significant contributions to astronomy and astrophysics, along with its iconic images, have made it an invaluable asset in advancing our understanding of the cosmos. While periodic challenges may arise, the Hubble remains a powerful tool for scientific exploration.
The telescope’s recent interruption impacted scheduled observations related to Kuiper Belt Objects, metallicity in the Andromeda Galaxy’s satellites, Type 1A supernovae, and other research topics. With the resolution of the gyro issue, the Hubble is expected to resume its scientific mission and contribute to ongoing astronomical investigations.
Reference: https://www.sciencealert.com/the-worlds-most-productive-space-telescope-is-back-in-action
