Glitches delay Hubble reactivation
Posted: Sat, Oct 18, 2008, 9:45 AM ET (1345 GMT)
Two problems encountered with switching the Hubble Space Telescope over to a backup science computer will delay the telescope's return to service until next week at the earliest, NASA officials said Friday. Telescope engineers started the process of transferring operations to the "Side B" backup science data handling system on Wednesday, and initial reports indicated that the switchover was going well. On Thursday, though, one Hubble instrument reported lower than normal voltages, followed by an interruption in communications between the science computer and the telescope's main computer, putting the telescope back into a protective safe mode. While NASA officials said they are still optimistic they'll be able to restore the telescope to normal scientific operations, the work required to deal with these problems will prevent the telescope from resuming operations until no sooner than late next week.
Two problems encountered with switching the Hubble Space Telescope over to a backup science computer will delay the telescope's return to service until next week at the earliest, NASA officials said Friday. Telescope engineers started the process of transferring operations to the "Side B" backup science data handling system on Wednesday, and initial reports indicated that the switchover was going well. On Thursday, though, one Hubble instrument reported lower than normal voltages, followed by an interruption in communications between the science computer and the telescope's main computer, putting the telescope back into a protective safe mode. While NASA officials said they are still optimistic they'll be able to restore the telescope to normal scientific operations, the work required to deal with these problems will prevent the telescope from resuming operations until no sooner than late next week.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Saturday, July 4
Coolest spacecraft ever in orbit around L2
ESA — 4:24 am ET (0824 GMT) Moonwalker Aldrin says we should colonise Mars
The Herald — 4:23 am ET (0823 GMT) Interest in space memorabilia takes a leap
Financial Times — 4:22 am ET (0822 GMT) Evidence mounts that Mars was once habitable
Arizona Republic — 4:17 am ET (0817 GMT) First Moon images sent back by Nasa orbiter show incredible details just 10ft across
The Daily Mail — 4:17 am ET (0817 GMT) |