Space scientists in Greenbelt, Maryland are making critical adjustments to the Hubble Space Telescope, a device that has provided 34 years of stunning imagery of the cosmos. The telescope, which has been relying on six gyroscopes to navigate its observations, is now facing challenges as some of the gyros have begun to fail.
Due to the failing gyroscopes, the Hubble team has decided to transition the telescope to operate with only one gyro, keeping another as a backup for future use. Despite the limitations associated with this change, such as reduced efficiency and flexibility in tracking moving objects closer to Earth, scientists believe this approach will support Hubble’s scientific endeavors for years to come.
The decision to operate with a single gyro comes after months of troubleshooting faulty readings from one of the three remaining gyros, causing the telescope to enter “safe mode” and interrupt its observations. Efforts to reset the gyro from the ground have been temporary fixes, prompting the team to implement a new operational strategy to ensure continued functionality of the Hubble Space Telescope.
The team is now working on reconfiguring both the telescope and the ground system to restore routine observations by mid-June. While there was a previous study on potentially boosting Hubble to a higher orbit for extended operational time, current plans do not involve a reboost maneuver at this time.
Looking ahead, the Hubble Space Telescope is expected to continue its cosmic observations until the mid-2030s, providing valuable insights into the universe that complement the work of other space observatories. Despite the challenges posed by aging equipment, scientists remain optimistic about the telescope’s capabilities and its potential to contribute to scientific research for years to come.