NASA is troubleshooting Hubble's gyroscope to resume scientific operations and ensure it continues to make astronomical discoveries alongside telescopes such as the James Webb. The telescope entered safe mode on November 23 due to a gyroscope (gyro) issue, and NASA is working to restore the telescope's scientific operations. Hubble's instruments are currently operating stably and in good health.
The Hubble Space Telescope entered safe mode on November 23 due to a gyroscope failure, and NASA is working to resume its scientific operations. (3D animation shows the Hubble Space Telescope flying over Earth.) Image credit: ESA/Hubble (M. Kornmesser and L.L. Christensen)
When one of the three gyroscope readings failed, the telescope automatically entered a safe mode. Gyroscopes measure the rate of rotation of a telescope and are part of the system that determines which direction the telescope points. In safe mode, science operations are paused and the telescope awaits new instructions from the ground.
The Hubble Space Telescope was launched on April 24, 1990 by the space shuttle Discovery. Because it avoids distortion in the atmosphere, Hubble can peer unobstructed at planets, stars and galaxies 13.4 billion light-years away. Source: NASA
Hubble entered safe mode for the first time on November 19. Although the operations team successfully restored the spacecraft to resume observations the next day, unstable gyroscopes caused the observatory to suspend scientific operations again on November 21. After a successful recovery, Hubble entered safe mode again on November 23.
The research team is currently conducting tests to characterize the problem and develop solutions. If necessary, the spacecraft can be reconfigured to operate using only one gyroscope. During the fifth and final shuttle servicing mission in 2009, six new gyroscopes were installed on the spacecraft. To date, three of the gyroscopes are still operating, including the one currently experiencing fluctuations. Hubble uses three gyroscopes to maximize efficiency, but it can continue to use only one gyroscope for scientific observations if desired.
NASA expects Hubble, in partnership with other observatories such as the agency's James Webb Space Telescope, to continue making groundbreaking discoveries this decade and possibly the next.
Hubble was launched in 1990 and has been observing the universe for more than 33 years.