NASA fixes Hubble Space Telescope using backup power supply unit, payload computer

[Klaralven]

NASA’s beloved Hubble Space Telescope is able to snap the heavens again after overcoming a hardware issue that had plagued it for more than a month.

Its onboard payload computer, which controls its instruments, mysteriously froze, forcing the main computer to put the orbiting observatory's sensors into an inactive safe mode. By utilizing redundant components, the US space agency was finally able to bring Hubble back online.

“NASA has successfully switched to backup hardware on the Hubble Space Telescope, including powering on the backup payload computer, on July 15,” it said in a statement today.

“The switch was performed to compensate for a problem with the original payload computer that occurred on June 13 when the computer halted, suspending science data collection.”

https://www.theregister.com/2021/07/16/hubble_telescope_fixed/

[SergeStorms]

1. Its amazing...

how NASA works around any problem that arises. I'm so glad they got the Hubble fixed. There's so much more to see.

[machoneman]

2. Yep, amazing they could do this from Earth....and it worked! Bravo NASA!

[crickets]

3. Great news! K&R

[roamer65]

4. I wish they would bring it down and put it in a museum when it finally dies.

But without a shuttle program, don’t see it happening.

[localroger]

5. It's unlikely they would spend a Shuttle mission to bring it home even if it was dead

It will be de-orbited by a rocket pack that is fully independent and already installed, and aimed to drop the vehicle in the middle of an ocean. This was one of the things done on the final service mission, which was itself very risky because it was post-Columbia and no rescue or use of the ISS as a lifeboat was possible from the HST's orbit.

And that is tragic. I have paid my respects to the Apollo capsules at the Smithsonian. It is awesome to regard something that has been the instrument of so much with my own eyes. But it's how the world works.