Hubble ready to resume observations
Posted: Fri, Oct 24, 2008, 7:12 AM ET (1112 GMT)
NASA is on track to restore the Hubble Space Telescope to scientific operations as soon as this weekend, agency officials said Thursday. The orbiting telescope's science data handing computer was reactivated Thursday, clearing the way for observations using Hubble's Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 instrument on Saturday. The telescope's main science data handling computer failed in late September, and engineers last week tried to switch to a backup "Side B" computer on the telescope. However, problems with the changeover, which appear to have been caused by an "electrical event" that caused no permanent damage, put that transfer on hold. The computer failure last month led NASA to postpone a Hubble servicing mission that was to launch this month so that the crew can train to replace the failed computer as part of their repair work on the telescope.
NASA is on track to restore the Hubble Space Telescope to scientific operations as soon as this weekend, agency officials said Thursday. The orbiting telescope's science data handing computer was reactivated Thursday, clearing the way for observations using Hubble's Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 instrument on Saturday. The telescope's main science data handling computer failed in late September, and engineers last week tried to switch to a backup "Side B" computer on the telescope. However, problems with the changeover, which appear to have been caused by an "electrical event" that caused no permanent damage, put that transfer on hold. The computer failure last month led NASA to postpone a Hubble servicing mission that was to launch this month so that the crew can train to replace the failed computer as part of their repair work on the telescope.
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) |