Hubble instrument computer glitch spells trouble
The Hubble Space Telescope went into safe mode on 13 June, following a fault in its payload computer. As of writing, several attempts to recover the telescope have been unsuccessful.
The payload computer, built in the 1980s, controls the telescope’s science instruments and monitors the telescope’s performance. It initially failed to send its ‘handshake’ signal to the main computer. This automatically put its instruments into safe mode to prevent them being damaged. Mission controllers initially tried resetting the computer without success, before tracking down the issue to the computer’s memory module. They then attempted to transfer to one of the three backup modules, but the command failed to complete.
After 30 years in space, the telescope is beginning to show its age, and this isn’t the first time it has experienced computer problems. Back on 7 March, the telescope suffered a software fault, which put it out of action for five days before being remedied. The Hubble team say they will continue attempting to get the spacecraft back online and doing science. www.nasa.gov