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The Hubble Space Telescope has invested over three decades bringing us wonderful images and information, but the spacecraft is showing its age. The Hubble team is troubleshooting an issue with the telescopes payload computer– a piece of hardware developed in the 1980s– that manages its science instruments. However there may be something else going on. The computer concern surfaced on June 13. “After examining the data, the Hubble operations group is investigating whether a degrading memory module caused the computer stop,” NASA said in a declaration recently. Hubble is a joint project from NASA and the European Space Agency.
NASA revealed on Tuesday that the memory problem may really be a sign of problem with a different piece of hardware. “The operations group is investigating whether the Standard Interface (STINT) hardware, which bridges interactions in between the computer systems Central Processing Module (CPM) and other parts, or the CPM itself is accountable for the problem,” the agency said.In a June 18 update, NASA stated the telescope is healthy, however the science instruments stay in safe mode. The Hubble group already attempted rebooting the payload computer system, however came across the same glitch again. The group attempted switching to a backup module, however the command stopped working to complete. Another effort wasnt effective. ” The team is presently creating tests that will be run in the next couple of days to attempt to additional isolate the issue and identify a prospective option,” NASA stated on Tuesday. If the problems cant be repaired, the Hubble team will look at switching the telescope to a backup payload computer. The backup hasnt been powered on since it was set up throughout a space shuttle servicing objective in 2009.
NASA unveils 30 dazzling brand-new Hubble space images for an impressive anniversary
The NASA/ESA Hubble Area Telescope throughout release in 1990.
NASA/Smithsonian Institution/Lockheed
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The telescope has actually weathered a series of technical glitches in current years. A software application error sent it into safe mode for a number of days in March.Hubble has been incredibly durable as researchers wait for the much-delayed next-generation James Webb Space Telescope to release, hopefully later this year.
The Hubble Space Telescope has invested over three years bringing us marvelous images and data, but the spacecraft is revealing its age. The Hubble team is repairing a problem with the telescopes payload computer system– a piece of hardware developed in the 1980s– that manages its science instruments. Hubble is a joint project from NASA and the European Space Agency.
The Hubble group will look at changing the telescope to a backup payload computer if the issues cant be repaired.
