Off Topic Discussions

[BigAl01]

NASA is working to resume science operations of the agency’s Hubble Space Telescope after it entered safe mode Nov. 23 due to an ongoing gyroscope (gyro) issue. Hubble’s instruments are stable, and the telescope is in good health.

The telescope automatically entered safe mode when one of its three gyroscopes gave faulty readings. The gyros measure the telescope’s turn rates and are part of the system that determines which direction the telescope is pointed. While in safe mode, science operations are suspended, and the telescope waits for new directions from the ground.

Hubble first went into safe mode Nov. 19. Although the operations team successfully recovered the spacecraft to resume observations the following day, the unstable gyro caused the observatory to suspend science operations once again Nov. 21. Following a successful recovery, Hubble entered safe mode again Nov. 23.

The team is now running tests to characterize the issue and develop solutions. If necessary, the spacecraft can be re-configured to operate with only one gyro. The spacecraft had six new gyros installed during the fifth and final space shuttle servicing mission in 2009. To date, three of those gyros remain operational, including the gyro currently experiencing fluctuations. Hubble uses three gyros to maximize efficiency, but could continue to make science observations with only one gyro if required.

NASA anticipates Hubble will continue making groundbreaking discoveries, working with other observatories, such as the agency’s James Webb Space Telescope, throughout this decade and possibly into the next.

Launched in 1990, Hubble has been observing the universe for more than 33 years. Read more about some of Hubble’s greatest scientific discoveries.

Remember the mirror issue they discovered shortly after launch? They had to fix the optics back then to address the blurry images.

[quentincrews]

Seems unlikely that there will be a suitable space vehicle in the next few years that can service Hubble. A modified Starship is maybe the most likely option?

[BigAl01]

That's a good question.  The Hubble Space Telescope was designed for replacement of critical parts, and like the article said, they did have a service mission to replace all six gyros in 2009 before the Space Shuttle fleet was retired.  According to the NASA web site, Hubble is in a low-earth orbit where the Space Shuttle used to reach it.    

Our new launch system (Artemis), still in the test cycle but perhaps one of it's manned test flights could rendezvous with Hubble before heading toward the moon and do a space walk to replace the gyros again.  If the Starship can ever reach orbit and carry a crew, that is another possibility.

[mengelag]

The James Webb telescope is what really intrigues me these days. The discoveries it's making is amazing