NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope Resumes Scientific Observations
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) made an announcement on December 8, 2023, confirming that the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) had resumed scientific observations on the same day. This development comes after the telescope had been in safe mode since November 23, 2023, due to a malfunction in one of its gyroscopes.
According to NASA, the “Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3)” and “Advanced Camera for Airborne Hunting Observations (ACS)” have already resumed operation, while the “Cosmic Origins Spectrograph (COS)” and The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrometer (STIS) are expected to resume operations in the second half of December 2023.
After a thorough analysis of the gyroscopes that were causing the issue, the operations team at NASA concluded on December 7 that science observations could safely be resumed using all three gyroscopes. The gyroscopes are integral to the telescope’s attitude control, aiding in the detection of its orientation.
The Hubble Space Telescope normally utilizes three gyroscopes simultaneously for optimal efficiency. However, in the event of malfunctions, it can still conduct scientific observations using a single gyroscope, in conjunction with other attitude-detection sensors such as the magnetometer, solar sensor, and star tracker.
The current gyroscope in operation was installed during the Space Shuttle’s fifth servicing mission (STS-125) in May 2009. While six gyroscopes are installed on the telescope, only three are currently in use. The most recent servicing mission for the Hubble Space Telescope took place in July 2011 following the retirement of the Space Shuttle.
It is worth noting that the return to scientific operations for the Hubble Space Telescope is a significant achievement, ensuring the continuation of its invaluable contributions to our understanding of the universe.
Image Credits
Image 1: Telesgop Gofod Hubble yn cylchdroi’r Ddaear (Credit: NASA)
Image 2: Diagram yn dangos trefniant yr offer yn ymwneud â rheoli agwedd Telesgop Gofod Hubble. Synhwyrydd yw gyrosgop (Gyros) sydd wedi’i osod i ganfod y cyfeiriad y mae’r telesgop yn ei wynebu, ac mae’n mesur cyflymder cylchdroi’r telesgop (Credit: NASA)
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Source
NASA – NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope Returns to Science Operations
Text courtesy of the editorial section
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announced on December 8, 2023 that the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) resumed scientific observations on the same day. At the time of publication, the “Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3)” and “Advanced Camera for Airborne Hunting Observations (ACS)” had resumed operation, and the “Cosmic Origins Spectrograph (COS)” and The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrometer (STIS) is expected to resume operations in the second half of December 2023.[Diweddarwydddiwethaf:9Rhagfyr2023am10:00]
[▲ Telesgop Gofod Hubble yn cylchdroi’r Ddaear (Credyd: NASA)]
As previously reported, the Hubble Space Telescope has been in safe mode since November 23, 2023 due to a malfunction in one of the three gyroscopes (gyro sensor, angular velocity sensor) currently in operation. According to NASA, after further analysis of the gyroscopes that had the problem, the operations team had decided by December 7 that science observations could be resumed using all three gyros.
A gyroscope is a piece of equipment involved in attitude control, and is fitted to detect the direction the telescope is facing. The Hubble Space Telescope normally uses three gyros simultaneously to maximize efficiency, but by working with other sensors that detect attitude (magnetometer, solar sensor, star tracker), one gyro can be used at the same time when. It is said that it is possible to carry out scientific observations with only the gyro.
The gyroscope currently in use on the Hubble Space Telescope was replaced during the Space Shuttle’s fifth servicing mission (STS-125) in May 2009. A total of six gyros are currently installed, but as mentioned above, three currently in operation. Since the retirement of the Space Shuttle in July 2011, this was the fifth and final servicing mission for the Hubble Space Telescope.
[▲ Diagram yn dangos trefniant yr offer yn ymwneud â rheoli agwedd Telesgop Gofod Hubble. Synhwyrydd yw gyrosgop (Gyros) sydd wedi’i osod i ganfod y cyfeiriad y mae’r telesgop yn ei wynebu, ac mae’n mesur cyflymder cylchdroi’r telesgop (Credyd: NASA)]
Related article
・ The Hubble Space Telescope stops scientific observations; one gyroscope malfunctions (December 1, 2023)
・NASA and SpaceX to consider Hubble space telescope high orbit mission (October 2, 2022)
Source
NASA – NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope Returns to Science Operations
Text/sorae editorial section
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