There are problems with the Hubble Space Telescope. A computer shut down some systems. NASA engineers are feverishly trying to get it up and running again, so far without success.
The Hubble Space Telescope has been out of service for several days. As the US space agency Nasa announced on Friday, there is a problem with the computer that controls the telescope’s scientific instruments. It was turned off last Sunday, but a restart attempt failed on Monday.
The telescope itself, which has been in space since 1990, and its instruments are “working well,” NASA said. The instruments have been put into “safe mode” until the problem is resolved.
The Hubble telescope was jointly developed by NASA and the European Space Agency Esa. Since its launch in April 1990, Hubble has revolutionized astronomy with stunning images from space. His recordings of the planets in our solar system, but also distant galaxies, supernova explosions, and planetary nebulae, have given lay people a completely unexpected glimpse of the universe.
However, the history of the space telescope did not always go well. Shortly after the start, it became apparent that his main mirror was not properly ground. The result was blurry images. The bug was fixed in 1993 by a space shuttle mission.
The telescope should continue to operate until the end of the year. So the new James Webb Space Telescope will replace Hubble.
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