The Hubble Space Telescope, known for its stunning images of the cosmos, is undergoing a significant operational shift to ensure its continued ability to observe the universe, NASA officials announced. For 34 years, the telescope has relied on six gyroscopes to control its direction during observations. However, as the gyroscopes have aged, some have failed, leading to operational challenges.
During the final servicing mission in 2009, six new gyroscopes were installed to maintain the telescope’s functionality. Despite the replacements, over time, several gyroscopes have malfunctioned. In the past six months, one of the three remaining functional gyroscopes has been providing inaccurate readings, causing the telescope to enter ‘safe mode’ and interrupt its observations.
Efforts to reset the faulty gyroscope from the ground have been only temporarily successful, with the issue recurring more frequently. Following the latest incident on May 24, where the telescope entered safe mode once again, NASA made the decision to operate the Hubble Space Telescope using a single gyro, reserving the other functional gyroscope for future use.
This shift in operational mode is intended to extend the telescope’s lifespan and prevent further disruptions to its observations. By transitioning to a single-gyro mode, NASA aims to ensure that the Hubble Space Telescope can continue its mission of capturing images of exoplanets, galaxies, and other celestial objects without interruptions.
