Aging ...
An important computer mounted on the Hubble Space Telescope has been defective and has shifted to safe mode.The operation team is currently hurrying to solve the problem.
Again, again.
Hubble, which has a 31 -year history, has a similar problem in March of this year that it will shift to safe mode due to software problems.Similar transitions to safe mode occurred in 2008, 2018 and 2019, and the latter was a partially transition to safe mode.In each case, Hubble has returned, and it is desirable that this pattern will be repeated this time.
According to NASA's statement, the problem began on June 13 (Sun) that an important payload computer to control and coordinate Hubble scientific equipment was suddenly stopped.
Hubble's main computers were not able to receive regular hand -shake messages from the payload computer, so they were automatically made in safe mode of all scientific devices.On Monday, a team of the NASA Coded Space Flying Center in Green Belt, Maryland succeeded in restarting the payload computer, but the problem occurred again.
It is considered that the deterioration of the memory module is the cause of this abnormality.In other words, the team must deal with several legacy parts, such as "NASA Standard Spacecraft Computer-1 (NSSC-1)" designed in the 1980s.Because it was a Hubble launched on April 25, 1990, the parts are old.
The operation team has switched to one of the backup memory modules on Wednesday to solve the problem.In the future, we will operate the payload computer for a whole day and make sure that it works normally.Later, it is expected that all scientific devices mounted on the space telescope will be restarted, and that normal scientific activities such as shooting galaxies, planets, and other astronomical phenomena will be resumed.
The Hubble Space Telescope was jointly developed by NASA and European Space Organization, and its life was initially 15 years, but more than 30 years have passed.According to NASA, the space telescope has been observed more than 1.5 million times since it was put into a lower orbit, and the data has been published in over 18,000 reviews.
The Hubble Space Telescope has been active enough so far, but it cannot be said that it will not continue to work for a few years or for more than 10 years.Even if Hubble breaks down, there is already a substitute for James Webb Space Telescope, which will be launched this fall.
