The Hubble Space Telescope discovered a problem with one of its computers on June 13, 2021. It went into safe mode and closed its hatch while engineers returned to Earth try to solve it.However, it's becoming more difficult than anticipated.Initial problems were found in the payload computer's memory module, which controls and organizes the scientific instruments aboard the observatory. These cameras are called the camera module. The computer is responsible for a crucial task, as there are five scientific detectors and three telescopes that keep the observatory on course.Hubble's redundancy is the only thing that will help him.Zoom In Orion's young star announces its birth with twin beams matter. This creates the object HH-24. NASA and ESA. Acknowledgment NASA, ESA and the Hubble Heritage (STScI/AURA/Hubble-Europe) Collaboration, D. Padgett, T. Megeath, University of Toledo, and B. Reipurth, University of Hawaii.On June 14, a module restart attempt failed. Engineers tried to switch to a backup (one of the many available on the computer), but the command didn't finish. The engineers tried to bring the modules back online, and tried to retrieve diagnostic data. However, that failed as well.A backup payload computer is a duplicate of the main computer that has been sitting idle onboard, waiting for an opportunity to come along. This is where things get a little strange: Engineers switched on the backup computer in June and discovered that it was experiencing the same errors as its primary counterpart. This is not a great sign that the problem is higher up in the hardware flow.Zoom In This zoom shows the Science Instrument and Command and Data Handling units installed on Hubble Space Telescope's 2009 Hubble Space Telescope launch. It was seen shortly before its launch. Engineers on Earth are trying to find a solution. Credit to NASAThe payload is part of an assembly called the Science instrument and Command and Data handling (or SI C&DH unit). This larger assembly has hardware that supports the payload, such as a communications interface that allows it talk to other observatories components and four memory modules (one primary, three backup).The SI C&DH unit may be the culprit, as the payload computer and backup are not working properly. The team is currently looking into other hardware components, such as the power regulator and the unit that formats science data for the Earth. Engineers may need to execute a complex series of commands to switch between backups of the parts if one of these pieces is defective (the B Side, as it is known; the primary is the A Side).Similar events have happened before. In 2008, the primary SI C&DH unit failed. This happened just before Shuttle Atlantis' last servicing mission. The flight was delayed to allow for a new unit to be installed. This was in 2009. The unit that was installed back then is now having issues.This is obviously a complex and difficult issue. Hubble is orbiting around Earth at 8 km per second, at a height well above 500 kilometers above the Earth's surface. It is not going to be thrown on its side by anyone. The observatory's final design allowed astronauts to access it from the Space Shuttle. They could use a robot arm to grab it and pull it into a safe position. This would allow them to do long, often exhausting spacewalks to get to their work.Zoom InAt the moment, we don't have such a capability. It is possible that a SpaceX Dragon Capsule will pull up alongside it. But then, what? It is impossible to secure the observatory that measures approximately the same size as a school bus, nor can they work on it. Any fix to the beloved telescope must be made remotely from the ground.We have the latest news from Friday, July 2. Follow Hubble and NASA Twitter to keep up to date with all of our developments. It is important to remember that both the observatory's cameras and their equipment are working fine. They are just resting, more or less. They should return to their job of spying on the heavens if and when the problem is resolved.Zoom In Diagram of the locations of scientific instruments aboard the Hubble Space Telescope. Credit: NASA / GSFCThis is a concern of mine, but not enough to be a real worry. Hubble has had to deal with many problems over the years and have come out the other end.It could take decades. Wow. My involvement with Hubble began in 1990, just two weeks before its launch into space. I continued to work on different aspects of the project for almost a decade. It is amazing to think it has been there for so long. But here we are. This makes me wonder.Zoom in The Crab Nebula is the expanding debris of a supernova explosion and it's located approximately 6,500 light-years from Earth. Credit: NASA, ESA and J. Hester (Arizona State University).I stated earlier that Hubble would be saved by redundancy. It's true, but there is more. Cleverness is also required. Intelligence. Experience. There are many things that humans can do, but they're more possible when we focus on something we feel called to do. Hubble was built by scientists, engineers, programmers and many other people. We needed a unique eye to see the sky that no one else had seen before.They did it. Hubble is not perfect, and I've spent more time lamenting these flaws than anyone else. Many of these flaws can be fixed because they were intended to be. This problem, the misfigured mirror or any other are not particularly noteworthy. It was serviceable and can be repaired if necessary.Hubble is more than 30 years old and, even before this issue, still works very well. Although it has technology that is considered old, it still works. It will, at the very least, when this problem is fixed.It might not be possible, but it could. We will eventually have to stop fixing the observatory's problems. It will be a difficult day for many of us. However, we can look back and be amazed by the achievements of this machine. It was amazing what we achieved.
