NASA launched the Hubble Telescope. It didn't work for a month due to an error

Researchers from NASA were able to restart the legendary Hubble telescope, which had not been working since June 13 due to

computer failure.As Science has learned, after Hubble operators switched from the working payload control computer to a backup device over the past 24 hours, they have restored communication with all instruments and plan to return them to normal operation.

Tom Brown, head of the Hubble mission office, sentan email saying “Hubble is back!” employees of the Space Telescope Science Institute. “I look forward to «Hubble» will return to exploring the Universe,” the letter notes.

Problems with the device began on June 13th whenthe payload computer, which controls and monitors scientific instruments, noticed a communication error with the instruments and put them into safe mode. The Hubble operators initially thought the memory module was defective, but switching to one of the three redundant modules resulted in the same error. They are researchers and other devices, but it turned out that they were working properly, and the error persisted.

NASA has discovered the most likely cause of the Hubble failure

As a result, the researchers switched the entire blockcontrol of scientific instruments and data processing (SIC&DH) from a working instrument to a standby one. Over the past week, staff have been practicing this procedure on ground-based equipment, after which they conducted a full analysis to ensure that it could be done without damaging the telescope.

Shortly before that switch, NASA announced thatThe source of the problem is the Power Control Unit (PCU), which is part of the SIC&DH. The PCU is supplying a constant voltage to the payload computer, and it was either supplying a voltage outside the normal range, or the sensor that senses the voltage was giving an erroneous reading. Since the SIC&DH includes a spare PCU, the researchers were able to make the replacement.

This morning, scientists reported that they had succeededput Hubble into normal mode on side A [SIC&DH].” If the telescope behaves normally in the coming days, it will resume scientific observations.

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