The Hubble Space Telescope has yet to resume its full, normal operations.
NASA continues to work on the issues surrounding the Hubble Space Telescope. Although the rest of the spacecraft remains in operation, it has yet to return to its fully-functional state.
The space-based observatory entered safe mode on October 25. This took place after sending more error codes than it did the previous day. Experts at the agency have since worked on the glitch to bring all the telescope’s science instruments back online.
On Monday, NASA announced that it is “closer” to bringing back the space telescope into its full operation. This came after recovering another instrument, the Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3), according to Space.
Hubble team recovers Wide Field Camera 3
The Hubble team reportedly recovered the Wide Field Camera 3 on Sunday, November 21. It did so without making significant changes to the instrument’s parameters.
But, NASA noted that its engineers have already begun “preparing changes” to the parameters. As explained, these would “allow the instruments to handle several missed synchronization messages” if they occur in the future amid normal operations.
The WFC3 is the space telescope’s “most heavily used” science instrument. It represents more than one-third of Hubble’s observing time.
Remaining instruments still in safe mode
The recovery of the Wide Field Camera 3 is not the first success that NASA had amid fixing the glitch. On November 7, the Hubble team members were able to recover the Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS).
Officials said that it chose to restore this instrument first because it would face the “fewest complications” if a lost message occurs.
Despite the recovery of the two significant science instruments of the space telescope, the investigation remains. It appears that experts have yet to identify the cause of the glitch.
NASA also stated that the remaining instruments are still in the dark. These are the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph, Near Infrared Camera and Multi-Object Spectrometer, and Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph.
Signs of advanced age
The space observatory launched to the orbit of the Earth in April 1990. It has since provided the best space photos, as well as helped revolutionise the public’s understanding of the universe and space.
Servicing missions throughout its three-decade operation have allowed it to remain operational. But, the recent glitches are reportedly signs of the telescope’s advanced age.
Earlier in June, the Hubble went dark for the first time in 2021 after its payload computer stopped working. NASA was able to bring it back online after five weeks.
Images courtesy of NASA Goddard/YouTube