Hubble space telescope temporarily goes off duty as key device provides faulty reading

The Hubble Space Telescope hasmalfunctioned,yet again. The researchers’ own eye in space has gone offline after it faced an issue with a gyroscope and has entered into what scientists call safe mode. A gyroscope is a device used for measuring or maintaining orientation and angular velocity. Its purpose is to determine where the telescope is pointing and how the pointing changes in relation to the telescope’s movement in space. There are three such gyroscopes aboard the spacecraftandonly oneof themis facing issues. NASA scientistsare believedto be working to resolve theissueas soon as possible.

Third gyroscope reserved for future missions

The Hubble telescope doesn’t work atitsfullcapacity as the third gyroscopeis reservedfor future operations.As of now, it is guided and operated by just one of two gyroscopes.

The telescope underwent the fifth and final servicing in 2009 by the Space Shuttle Atlantisduringwhich six gyroscopeswere fittedinto the spacecraft.

Threeof themremain operational, including the onefacing issues currentlyand providing inaccurate readings.

Not the first time

It’s not the first timethat thefaulty gyroscope has provided inaccurate readings to the researchers. The same gyro faced issues in December 2023aswellafter NASA scientists reconfigured the telescope to operate in high-performance mode.

Thisprompted NASA to run some tests checking theusability of the gyroscope, following which the space agency decided againstcompletelyabandoning it.

Hubble now off duty

Owing to the faulty gyroscope, the Hubble telescope has now gone off duty and will remain non-operational till it’s fixed.

All scheduled programmes and missions havebeen puton hold as researchers at NASA try to send instructions from ground stations and get the thing going.

As per NASA’s plans, the telescope will remain operational for at least six more years and hopefully more.

(With inputs from agency)