In an effort to save the ailing Hubble Space Telescope, NASA is turning to a backup computer that has been in storage for seven years.
The $8.8 billion Hubble telescope has been in trouble since September, when one of its three gyroscopes failed. A second gyroscope failed last month. Without at least two functioning gyroscopes, Hubble cannot maintain its orientation in space, meaning it cannot take accurate pictures.
In an attempt to extend the telescope’s life, NASA turned off two of its three science instruments in November.
Now, the agency is hoping to use a backup computer known as the Science Instrument Command and Data Handling System, or SIC&DH, to restore at least one of the two science instruments.
The SIC&DH was last used in November 2012, when it was employed to help save the Kepler Space Telescope.
“The team has been working hard on a recovery plan, and I’m confident that we can bring at least one of the science instruments back online,” said Jennifer Wiseman, senior project scientist for Hubble at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center.
The SIC&DH is a “smart” computer that can act as a flight controller for multiple science instruments.
NASA is currently testing the SIC&DH to make sure it is still operational.
“We’ve done a lot of work to make sure the SIC&DH was still viable,” said Keith Parrish, Hubble’s project manager at Goddard. “We’ve been doing tests on the ground, and it looks like it’s in good shape.”
If the SIC&DH is able to bring one of the science instruments back online, it will buy NASA some time to try and find a more permanent solution to the Hubble’s gyroscope problem.
“This is a pragmatic solution to get at least one of the science instruments up and running again, and it buys us some time to look for a longer-term solution,” said Wiseman.
Contents
What kind of computer is on the Hubble telescope?
The Hubble telescope is a powerful device that has been used to observe the universe for over two decades. It was first launched into orbit in 1990 and has since made some of the most important discoveries in astronomy.
Despite its advanced age, the Hubble telescope is still going strong. This is thanks in part to the state-of-the-art computer system that is onboard. This computer system is responsible for controlling the telescope’s various instruments and performing all of its calculations.
The computer that is currently used on the Hubble telescope is a custom-built system that was designed by IBM. It is a very powerful machine, and is capable of handling the complex tasks that are required of it.
One of the main reasons why the Hubble telescope is still in operation today is because of its computer system. This system is constantly being upgraded and improved, in order to keep up with the latest advances in technology. Thanks to this, the Hubble telescope is likely to remain operational for many years to come.
Will NASA bring Hubble back to Earth?
On April 24, 2019, NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine announced that the agency was planning to bring the Hubble Space Telescope back to Earth. The telescope had been in orbit for more than 28 years, and its instruments were starting to show their age.
Bridenstine said that the Hubble Space Telescope could potentially be brought back to Earth as early as 2020. The plan would involve using a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket to launch the telescope into a higher orbit, where it would remain indefinitely.
Some observers have raised questions about the feasibility of this plan, noting that the Hubble Space Telescope is not designed to be brought back to Earth. However, Bridenstine said that NASA was working on a “recovery plan” that would involve using a robotic arm to grapple the telescope and guide it down to a landing pad.
If the plan is successful, it would mark the end of an era for the Hubble Space Telescope. The telescope has been one of NASA’s most successful missions, providing scientists with a wealth of data about the universe. It has also been a popular tourist destination, with more than three million people visiting its website to take pictures of the cosmos.
So far, there has been no official announcement about the cost of the proposed plan. However, it is likely that the cost of bringing the Hubble Space Telescope back to Earth would be in the millions of dollars.
Despite the cost, many observers believe that the plan is worth pursuing. As one commentator put it, “The Hubble Space Telescope has been an incredible success, and it would be a shame to let it retire in orbit.”
Is the Hubble telescope still transmitting?
Is the Hubble telescope still transmitting?
This is a question that has been asked a lot lately, as the Hubble telescope is aging. The answer, unfortunately, is not a simple one.
The Hubble telescope was launched into space in 1990, and it has been transmitting data back to Earth ever since. However, the telescope is starting to show its age, and it is no longer able to transmit as much data as it used to.
In 2013, Hubble’s transmitters failed, and the telescope was only able to send back data for a few hours each day. However, a team of engineers was able to come up with a solution, and Hubble was able to start transmitting data again.
However, the telescope’s transmitters are starting to fail again, and it is no longer able to send data back to Earth for more than a few hours each day.
So, is the Hubble telescope still transmitting?
The answer is yes, but it is not able to transmit as much data as it used to. The telescope is starting to show its age, and it is no longer able to last as long as it used to.
Why was Hubble shut down?
On October 5, 2018, the Hubble Space Telescope was abruptly shut down due to a gyroscope failure.
The gyroscope failure left Hubble unable to orient itself correctly and caused the telescope to enter into safe mode.
Hubble has been out of commission since then, and there is no estimate for when it will be back online.
So far, the gyroscope failure is the only major issue that Hubble has had in its 28-year history.
There are a few possible explanations for the gyroscope failure.
One possibility is that the gyroscope simply wore out after so many years of use.
Another possibility is that a micrometeoroid or other piece of debris hit the gyroscope, causing it to malfunction.
A third possibility is that the gyroscope was deliberately turned off by someone on the ground.
The gyroscope failure is a major blow to Hubble, as it leaves the telescope unable to do its job.
Hubble is responsible for some of the most significant discoveries in astronomy, and its loss will be felt by the scientific community.
It is still unclear what caused the gyroscope failure, but NASA is currently investigating the issue.
Hopefully, Hubble will be up and running again soon.
How much RAM does Hubble have?
How much RAM does Hubble have?
It has 2 gigabytes of RAM.
What Hubble sees on my birthday?
Every year on your birthday, Hubble Space Telescope sends you a special message. What does Hubble see on your birthday?
Hubble Space Telescope is a telescope in space that takes pictures of objects in space. It was launched into space in 1990.
Hubble Space Telescope sends you a special message every year on your birthday. What does Hubble see on your birthday?
For example, on my birthday in 2017, Hubble Space Telescope sent me a picture of the barred spiral galaxy NGC 1055. NGC 1055 is about 55 million light-years from Earth.
The picture Hubble Space Telescope sent me was of the disk of the galaxy, with the spiral arms clearly visible. There were also two bright areas in the center of the galaxy. These bright areas are probably caused by the stars in the galaxy.
Hubble Space Telescope also sent me a birthday message in 2016. The message was a picture of the spiral galaxy NGC 4565. NGC 4565 is about 42 million light-years from Earth.
The picture Hubble Space Telescope sent me was of the disk of the galaxy, with the spiral arms clearly visible. There were also two bright areas in the center of the galaxy. These bright areas are probably caused by the stars in the galaxy.
So, what does Hubble see on your birthday? It depends on the year! But, you can be sure that it will be an amazing picture of something in space!
Can Hubble take pictures of Earth?
Yes, Hubble can take pictures of Earth.
Hubble is a powerful telescope that was launched into space in 1990. It has the ability to take pictures of objects that are very far away. Hubble can also take pictures of objects that are very small.
Hubble can take pictures of Earth because it is very far away from Earth. Hubble is located about 600 kilometers (373 miles) above Earth. This distance allows Hubble to take pictures of Earth that are very clear.
Hubble has taken many pictures of Earth. These pictures have been used to study Earth’s climate and environment. Hubble has also been used to study natural disasters, such as hurricanes and earthquakes.
Hubble is scheduled to be retired in 2020. However, scientists are working on a new telescope called the James Webb Space Telescope. The James Webb Space Telescope will be able to take even better pictures of Earth than Hubble.
