Posted on 03/13/2021 9:11:02 AM PST by BenLurkin
The venerable Hubble Space Telescope is recovering from a glitch that halted its science operations over the weekend, according to NASA.
The telescope entered "safe mode" unexpectedly on Sunday morning (March 7), stalling the observatory's science observations due to an apparent software glitch. Science operations resumed late Thursday (March 11). While Hubble is partially back to work, NASA is still troubleshooting one instrument on the 30-year-old telescope, according to a statement released on Friday (Mar. 12).
The WFC3 issue was an "unexpected error," according to NASA, that occurred when the telescope was transitioning from safe mode into pre-science after the team addressed the initial software glitch. NASA offered no additional details about the camera, noting only that "The team is currently reviewing that issue and possible solutions."
The software glitch stemmed from a recent modification to the telescope's code meant to address Hubble's gyroscope issues, the statement continues. Hubble uses gyroscopes to point itself properly in order to lock onto a science targets during observations. The telescope has six gyroscopes, but only three are still working after three decades in orbit. For now, the Hubble team is blocking that enhancement; later, engineers will tweak it for future use.
While the telescope was in safe mode, the team identified another issue the spacecraft is experiencing. The telescope sports a door at its top that can automatically block out the sun's light and heat in case Hubble mistakenly turns in the direction of the star. The door hasn't been called into service in that way to date, according to NASA, but it is meant to shut when the telescope enters safe mode. Engineers now believe they have addressed the issue by switching the door to rely on its backup motor.
(Excerpt) Read more at space.com ...
Another victory for Gropin’ Joe?
Biden thinks Hubble telescope is Fred Flintstone’s neighbor.
So I turned the Hubble Telescope around to look at Marie Osmond’s house.
So what?
Is that against the law or something?
It is?
I’ll be.
Dang it.
All I ever saw was roof shingles anyway.
Fortunately it will soon be replace by the James Webb telescope. Soon, meaning in about 250 years at a cost of 400 thousand trillion dollars. But it will be worth it.
One of the satellite missions my son worked on had a gyroscope failure. I think it resulted in turning the solar panels and antennas the wrong way. From what he said, it spun around in orbit for several years. Then one day, the signal from earth caught it and they were able to link comms up again.
Apparently they never gave up
They wiped all the pics of the mothership arriving?
Just like last time, our overlords presence must not be revealed.
Windows 3.0 ?
I’m so relieved!
The Hubble is in low earth orbit at 340 miles, according to NASA. I was shocked shocked I say to find that out— the ol’ Hubble is not flying thru Deep Space! Such disappointment to see all these gorgeous Nebula in the NASA Photo Gallery, but no true shots of the whole Big Blue Marble spinning in the vast Void— just cgi composites and artist renderings. Maybe too hard to turn around the cameras in LEO...Or maybe NASA does have some good earth shots they’re not sharing for some unexplained reasons. We the Gullible should be satisfied with Govt. cgi composites and Hollywood interpretations in movies and other “programming.”
“Unfortunately Hubbell Telescope has stopped”
I was also shocked—shocked I tell you—to learn that the Hubble’s main mission was not to prove the earth is flat, but to look beyond the earth. As if the whole point of our existence is—not to contemplate our own bums, but—to know our place in the universe. When of course, it’s not.
Typical response that adds nothing —but it did give you the opportunity to type ‘flat earth’ for no good reason. I have no idea what shape the earth is. If you are relying on the NASA photo gallery, neither do you. The earth is our home, and some of us would like to know Truth and not Sci-Fi Forevuh!
Space radiation, eventually, turns older lubricants into gum.
The earth is a slightly oblate sphere. Glad I could help.
I have two degrees in Geography so have heard all about the earth’s shape as an oblate sphere about 25,000 miles in circumference around the Equator, slightly less around the Poles - rotating at a rate of about 1000 mph, thus making that bulge... Yeah, I heard it all. Learning it back in the early NASA days, I didn’t expect much actual visual proof then in textbooks— but now with all that excitement over ISS, Hubble, and a dune buggy scurrying about Mars, what’s so wrong in wanting to see the whole earth in a non-photoshopped image? Your responses indicate that some things we just can’t question, or out come the Krackens.
What does Hubble think it is, Twitter in Space?
Hubble was a Handler for the Official Outer Space Narrative just like Fauci is the Handler for the Official Inner Space Narrative- the Jesuits are the Overseers of both.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.