Hubble Space Telescope in Safe Mode Again: A Familiar Problem for NASA’s Astronomical Giants”.

NASA is currently working on resolving an issue with a gyro that has caused the Hubble Space Telescope to enter safe mode. Although one of the gyros is causing the telescope to operate in this mode, Hubble’s instruments remain stable and the telescope is in good health. The gyros are responsible for measuring the telescope’s turn rates and are essential in determining its direction. While in safe mode, science operations are suspended until new instructions are received from Earth.

This is not the first time Hubble has entered safe mode due to a problem with a gyro. In November, a similar fault led to the telescope being put on standby. The team is currently investigating possible solutions to the gyro issue, and if necessary, they may reconfigure the spacecraft to operate with only one gyro while keeping another as backup.

During its final servicing mission in 2009, six new gyros were installed on Hubble. Currently, three of these gyros are operational, including the one experiencing fluctuations. Hubble typically uses three gyros for maximum efficiency but can still conduct science observations with just one if needed. NASA expects that Hubble will continue to make significant discoveries over this decade and potentially into the next while collaborating with other observatories like James Webb Space Telescope.

Hubble was launched in 1990 and has been observing the universe for over three decades, recently celebrating its 34th anniversary. Despite this current gyro issue, NASA remains optimistic about Hubble’s future and its ability to continue unveiling the mysteries of our universe as it moves forward into its fourth decade of operation.