Latest Hubble Space Telescope glitch forces NASA to switch on safe mode, pause research | Tech News

Latest Hubble Space Telescope glitch forces NASA to switch on safe mode, pause research

According to NASA, the Hubble Space Telescope has been hit by a problem and it has imposed a temporary pause in its scientific operations.

By: HT TECH
| Updated on: Dec 01 2023, 10:26 IST
NASA reveals massive 470-foot asteroid, 4 others, to pass close to Earth! Check details
Hubble Space Telescope
1/5 Asteroid 2023 WC1: This asteroid is scheduled to pass by Earth today, November 30, 2023. According to a NASA report, the asteroid will get as close as 2160000 kilometers. The space rock has a size of 59 feet which is the same as a single-story house. It is moving at a speed of 27959 kilometres per hour. (Pixabay)
Hubble Space Telescope
2/5 Asteroid 2023 VM7: This asteroid will pass close to Earth on December 1, 2023. It has a size of 34 feet and it will make a close approach to Earth of 2460000 kilometers. NASA reveals that the space rock is moving at a speed of 11327 kilometres per hour. However, it does not pose any harm to Earth. (Pixabay)
Hubble Space Telescope
3/5 Asteroid 2023 WD3: The space object designated as asteroid 2023 WD3 is going to make a very close approach to Earth on December 1, 2023. The asteroid has a width of approximately 110 feet which is equivalent to an airplane. Its orbit will take it almost as close as 3060000 kilometers to our Planet and it is moving at a raging speed of 50420 kilometres per hour.  (Pixabay)
Hubble Space Telescope
4/5 Asteroid 1998 WB2: The space rock has a scary size of 470 feet and it is designated as Asteroid 1998 WB2. It is not its first approach to the Earth, however, on December 3, 2023, it will come 4210000  kilometres close to our planet’s surface. NASA reported that the space rock is moving at a speed of 51116 kilometres per hour. (Pixabay)
Hubble Space Telescope
5/5 Asteroid 2013 VX4: It is a 190-foot asteroid which going to make a close approach on December 4, 2023. NASA designated the space rock as Asteroid 2013 VX4 and it will make a close approach to Earth and get as close as 1960000 kilometres. According to the Center for Near Earth Object Studies, the asteroid is moving at a speed of 23567 kilometres per hour. (NASA)
Hubble Space Telescope
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NASA has been working to resume operations on the Hubble Space Telescope after it entered safe mode on November 23. (AP)

NASA's iconic space telescope, the Hubble Space Telescope, is currently undergoing a temporary pause in its scientific operations. According to NASA, this temporary pause occurred due to a gyroscope issue that forced NASA to trigger the safe mode on November 23. NASA is now working to get the Hubble Space Telescope to resume its operations. Notably, the Hubble Telescope has been working for decades, but the technology is very old now and there is a danger that it may go offline permanently. The telescope has passed its actual use-by date years ago.

Hubble Space Telescope on pause

NASA has been working to resume science operations Hubble Space Telescope after it entered safe mode on November 23 due to an ongoing gyroscope issue. However, the telescope's instruments remain stable and its overall health is good.

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According to a blog by NASA, the gyroscopes play a crucial role in determining the telescope's pointing direction by measuring its turn rate. The telescope first entered safe mode on November 19, with subsequent recovery efforts successfully restoring normal observations. It consecutively entered the safe mode again on November 21 and 23 after following successful recoveries.

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NASA's operations team is actively running tests to identify and characterize the gyro issue and working towards finding effective solutions. If needed, the spacecraft can be re-configured to operate with just one gyro. Despite having six new gyros installed during a space shuttle servicing mission in 2009, only three are currently operational, including the one experiencing fluctuations. While the Hubble Telescope typically uses three gyros for optimal efficiency, it can still continue making scientific observations with only one gyro if required.

Since its launch in 1990, the Hubble Space Telescope has been making groundbreaking observations that have deepened our understanding of the universe. With over 1.5 million observations and 20,000+ papers published on its discoveries, Hubble stands as the most productive science mission in NASA's history.

From tracking interstellar objects within our solar system to capturing galaxies merging over 13.4 billion light-years away, the Hubble Space Telescope has done it all. The telescope has also watched comets collide with Jupiter, discovered moons around Pluto, studied planetary atmospheres beyond our solar system, and more. In effect, the Hubble Space Telescope has proved itself as the most important instrument in the field of Space exploration.

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First Published Date: 01 Dec, 09:39 IST
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