Scientific work stopped: Hubble is fighting against wear and tear

Hubble is dilapidated and has to take more and more breaks. After having problems with navigation the last time, all scientific work had to be stopped due to a computer failure. The memory module is suspected to be at fault.

Once again, Hubble has to be turned off to analyze a flaw

The hardware used in space technology is extremely robust and designed for a large number of continuous loads such as significantly increased radiation in space. But the longer the use, the more cosmic time nibbles on these components. A prime example and therefore a good test bed for this development is the Hubble Space Telescope, which has been orbiting Earth since April 1990. Since last carrying out a service mission in 2009, the glare of the optical star gaze has been showing signs of wear and tear – which are now clearly evident once again.
Not currently active: Hubble must switch to backup once again

like nasa Reported, it was discovered on June 13 that the “NASA Standard Spacecraft Computer-1 (NSSC-1) System” developed in the 1980s had failed. The payload computer coordinates all scientific systems on board the Hubble and is therefore essential to the telescope’s work. “After the interruption on Sunday, the main computer did not receive a “keep-alive” signal, a standard handshake between the payload and the spacecraft’s main computer, which indicates that everything is fine,” the developers said.

If this signal is not received, the main computer automatically switches all scientific systems to a safe mode configuration. Responsible personnel at the control center at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, then tried a tried-and-tested trick on Monday, June 14: a computer restart. However, this time it was found that the problem cannot be solved in this way.

The problem is in the memory module

A later analysis provides a clue that Hubble’s current problem can be traced back to an older memory module. But it shows once again that the designers predicted such scenarios decades ago: “modules have different levels of redundancy that can be switched on when needed to function as a primary system”. It is precisely this relationship that Hubble must now return to normalcy once again.

It’s always impressive to see how the Hubble team solves critical problems thanks to the designers’ well-preparedness and creative solutions. The increasing number of strokes with which Hubble reports problems also makes it clear that the space telescope is moving more and more clearly toward eventual shutdown.


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NASA