The Hubble Space Telescope is in emergency mode. The reason is again problems with the gyroscope – VTM.cz

The Hubble Space Telescope is in serious trouble. The observatory is once again faced with an unpleasant gyroscope failure, for which she had to suspend scientific operations. The US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announced that the telescope automatically went into emergency mode on Tuesday, April 23, when one of the three operational gyroscopes began showing erroneous data.

NASA experts are currently working on a solution that will allow the telescope to resume normal operation. It is the second time in less than half a year that the space telescope had to stop all scientific operations due to problems with the gyroscopes.

In November last year one of the gyroscopes started showing nonsensical values, after which the Hubble Space Telescope was put into emergency mode. The next day, the telescope resumed operation, but then again went into emergency mode. In the end, its operation was only resumed in mid-December, and from then on it operated until April 23.

Naughty gyroscopes

Gyroscopes measure the speed of rotation of the telescope and are part of the system that determines which way it is pointed and serves to maintain its orientation. During the shuttle’s fifth and final servicing mission in 2009, six new gyroscopes were installed on the telescope, of which only three are operational today. If necessary, the telescope can work with only one gyroscope, but it uses all of them to increase efficiency.

One solution that NASA engineers are seriously considering is to reconfigure the telescope so that to work with only one gyroscope, while the other, which also works properly, would act as a backup. NASA emphasizes that all other instruments are functional and the telescope is in very good condition.

The Hubble Space Telescope was launched in 1990 as a pioneering optical space telescope. Since then, it has provided incredible images and made significant contributions to our understanding of the universe. The aging telescope has weathered a number of setbacks during its time in orbit, and NASA appears confident in getting it back into service.

“NASA anticipates that Hubble will, in collaboration with other observatories such as the James Webb Space Telescope, to continue their groundbreaking discoveries throughout this decade and possibly beyond.” states the National Aeronautics and Space Administration at the end of its statement.