The legendary Hubble telescope has been experiencing some trouble in orbit lately. The space observatory went into safe mode after an onboard computer failed to function properly.
The space agency has confirmed that it is working on restoring the payload computer on the Hubble telescope. Operations teams are conducting tests and extracting information on the space telescope system to avoid the same problem in the future.
While the computer is facing issues, science equipment aboard will continue to remain in safe mode. NASA says the Hubble telescope and its science equipment are in good health.
Degrading memory is the cause
The computer crashed on June 13 and the mission controllers tried restarting the computer the next day. However, it didn’t work, and indications point to a degrading memory of the system as the primary reason behind failure.
The ground control team tried switching on the computer to a backup memory module, but the command to initiate the backup module also did not complete. So the space agency carried out more checks on both modules, and recently they were able to obtain diagnostic information while trying to bring memory modules online. However, the team didn’t succeed in doing so.
The payload computer is a NASA Standard Spacecraft Computer-1 that was developed way back in the 1980s. The computer is placed on Science Instrument Command and Data Handling unit. The computer controls and coordinates science instruments and monitors their safety.
Hubble to be replaced soon?
The space agency says both primary and secondary computers can leverage any of the four memory modules. Each module packs 64 kilobits of CMOS memory. The payload computer is only capable of using one memory module at a time.
The other three modules are used to make backups. Mission controllers at NASA are still working to fix the issues on the Hubble telescope. Hubble is a very important science instrument, but will soon be outdone by the agency’s new James Webb Space Telescope, which is said to be launched later this year. The new telescope will hunt for habitable planets, search for light from ancient galaxies. It will also gather data that will allow researchers to learn the origins of the universe and Earth.
