Hubble Space Telescope LIVE! This computer made it all possible; check how it was brought online back from the dead | Tech News

Hubble Space Telescope LIVE! This computer made it all possible; check how it was brought online back from the dead

In a big development, the Hubble Space Telescope is back online, much to the delight of all fans who are interested in matters of space and tech.

By: HT TECH
| Updated on: Aug 21 2022, 19:03 IST
 - Over a month after it shut down due to a technical failure, the famous 31-year-old Hubble Space Telescope was finally brought back. - FILE PHOTO
 - Over a month after it shut down due to a technical failure, the famous 31-year-old Hubble Space Telescope was finally brought back. - FILE PHOTO (AP)
 - Over a month after it shut down due to a technical failure, the famous 31-year-old Hubble Space Telescope was finally brought back. - FILE PHOTO
 - Over a month after it shut down due to a technical failure, the famous 31-year-old Hubble Space Telescope was finally brought back. - FILE PHOTO (AP)

After many reports reported its likely death, the Hubble Space Telescope is finally back online. The Hubble Telescope resumed operations over the weekend, just a month after it experienced technical difficulties in its computers and went offline, according to the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The space agency has now begun collecting science data from the famous 31-year-old telescope in space, it announced on Sunday and this should please al those who are interested in space and tech related topics.

This is the second issue to affect the Hubble Space Telescope this year, with another glitch occuring earlier this year in March. Space telescopes are challenging to repair and the Hubble staff took over a month to resolve the issue with the telescope. The space agency finally explained how it brought the popular space telescope back online.

After many reports reported its likely death, the Hubble Space Telescope is finally back online. The Hubble Telescope resumed operations over the weekend, just a month after it experienced technical difficulties in its computers and went offline, according to the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The space agency has now begun collecting science data from the famous 31-year-old telescope in space, it announced on Sunday and this should please al those who are interested in space and tech related topics.

This is the second issue to affect the Hubble Space Telescope this year, with another glitch occuring earlier this year in March. Space telescopes are challenging to repair and the Hubble staff took over a month to resolve the issue with the telescope. The space agency finally explained how it brought the popular space telescope back online.|#+|

Why did the Hubble Space Telescope go offline?

Space telescopes rely on computers to function, and the Hubble Space Telescope is no exception. After years of successful operations, the telescope's main computer stopped receiving a “keep-alive” signal from the payload computer on June 13. In order to protect the sensitive science equipment on board the telescope, the main computer immediately put the Hubble Space Telescope into Safe Mode. This mode shuts down all science instruments (to prevent further damage) and keeps power and communications systems on the telescope alive while controllers attempt to fix the issue, according to the space agency.

How did NASA fix the problem with the Hubble Space Telescope computer?

NASA had previously attempted to start a secondary payload computer, also known as a redundancy. The space agency's attempts to use the backup computer were previously unsuccessful, and it took over a month to resolve the issue. According to NASA, the telescope's payload computer contained a power regulator, while a secondary protection circuit monitors its voltage to make sure it does not exceed or fall below the 5V required to operate the payload computer – and enter Safe Mode when it does.

In order to fix the issue, Hubble teams conducted tests over multiple days that revealed that the cause of the issue was either the regulator's voltage levels, or degradation of the secondary circuit – which both point to the aging technology inside the 31-year-old Hubble Space Telescope. Since the telescope cannot be serviced, NASA said that it decided to switch to the backup payload computer, after using ground commands to reset the power control unit did not work. The process of switching to the backup payload computer began on July 15 and took two days to complete. After this, the instruments were brought out of Safe Mode and the Hubble Space Telescope finally began operations on Saturday, the space agency explained.

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First Published Date: 19 Jul, 12:14 IST
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