To ensure the future of the Hubble space telescope, the American space agency has validated a new operating plan. From now on, the machine will only rely on a single gyroscope. The second, still functional, will be kept in reserve.
The Hubble telescope is going through a bad patch: one of its gyroscopes is not working properly. This is annoying for the observatory, because its options are reduced. In 2009, during the last maintenance operation, six gyroscopes were installed. Three already no longer work. And there is a fourth that goes off the rails.
The malfunctions of this gyroscope have been more and more numerous over the last six months, according to a NASA progress update on June 4, 2024. Despite resets to restore the component, the decision was made to change strategy. From now on, Hubble will operate on a single gyroscope, while the second, still operational, will be kept in reserve.
Hubble will use only one gyro at a time
Hubble is capable of operating on a single gyroscope without this posing an insurmountable problem. The US space agency planned for this eventuality already two decades ago, and in 2008 the telescope briefly encountered this situation. During its very degraded period, the quality of scientific observation was not affected.
However, we will have to deal with limitations from now on. Hubble will need more time to rotate and lock onto a target. ” He ” will not have as much flexibility as to what it can observe at any given time “. Finally, the observation of moving objects closer than Mars will no longer be possible. But Hubble was rarely used for that.
These new issues weigh nothing compared to the interest of keeping an observatory still functional in space. It is better to have a limping Hubble than no Hubble at all. This, even if he cannot point to what he wants, when he wants. Or that he can no longer move with the same ease as before.
“ This change will allow Hubble to continue exploring the secrets of the universe, without the majority of its observations being affected », Underlines the space agency. In the long term, NASA wants to be able to still count on its venerable observatory at least this decade, and perhaps during the next.
In the meantime, Hubble continues to operate in safe mode — which has been active since May 24. The decision to switch to a single gyroscope requires a few more days of evaluation and reconfiguration of the machine as well as the ground segment. The resumption of scientific activities is hoped for mid-June.
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