Nasa's Hubble Space Telescope entered safe mode on May 24, suspending science operations due to an ongoing gyroscope (gyro) issue.
The gyros, which measure the telescope's turn rates, are crucial for determining the direction the telescope is pointed.
The telescope automatically entered safe mode when one of its three gyroscopes gave faulty telemetry readings.
In April this year, the gyroscope had malfunctioned again pushing the observatory into safe mode in space.
The telescope will continue to work with other observatories, such as the James Webb Space Telescope, to advance our understanding of the universe.
Nasa's Hubble Space Telescope entered safe mode on May 24, suspending science operations due to an ongoing gyroscope (gyro) issue.
The telescope's instruments remain stable, and its overall health is good. The gyros, which measure the telescope's turn rates, are crucial for determining the direction the telescope is pointed.
The telescope automatically entered safe mode when one of its three gyroscopes gave faulty telemetry readings. Nasa engineers are currently working to identify potential solutions to the problem.
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If necessary, the spacecraft can be reconfigured to operate with only one gyro, with the other remaining gyro placed in reserve. The telescope had six new gyroscopes installed during its fifth and final space shuttle servicing mission in 2009, and three of those remain operational.
This is not the first time that the telescope has glitched in 2024. In April this year, the gyroscope had malfunctioned again pushing the observatory into safe mode in space.
The gyroscopes help stabilise the telescope and maintain a fixed orientation in space. This stabilization is crucial for capturing clear and sharp images of distant celestial objects. They assist in accurately pointing the telescope at specific targets. By providing precise measurements of the telescope's rotational speed and orientation, the gyroscopes enable fine adjustments to the telescope's position.
Despite the current issue, Nasa anticipates that Hubble will continue making groundbreaking discoveries throughout this decade and possibly into the next. The telescope will continue to work with other observatories, such as the James Webb Space Telescope, to advance our understanding of the universe.
Launched in 1990, Hubble has been observing the universe for more than three decades and recently celebrated its 34th anniversary.
The telescope has made numerous significant scientific discoveries, including the detection of dark energy and the observation of distant galaxies. Nasa will provide more information on the status of the telescope early in the first week of June.
Published By: Sibu Kumar Tripathi Published On: Jun 1, 2024
