These consist of possible modifications to instrument flight software application that could examine for these lost messages and compensate for them without putting the instruments into safe mode. Over the weekend of October 30, the team prepared to turn on parts of the Near Infrared Camera and Multi Object Spectrometer (NICMOS) instrument to gather data on this issue, enabling the team to determine how often this problem occurs. NICMOS allowed the team to utilize an instrument to gather details on these lost messages while keeping the active instruments off as a safety precaution. The group is now taking actions to recuperate Hubbles Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) instrument from safe mode and begin gathering science with that instrument at the start of next week. Once the team much better comprehends the frequency of the problem and has actually figured out the time required to implement possible software application modifications, they will go over a plan for returning the other instruments to science operations.
Over the weekend of October 30, the group prepared to turn on parts of the Near Infrared Camera and Multi Object Spectrometer (NICMOS) instrument to collect information on this concern, allowing the group to figure out how regularly this issue takes place. Installed in 1997, NICMOS has actually been inactive since 2010, when the Wide Field Camera 3 became functional. NICMOS enabled the team to use an instrument to collect details on these lost messages while keeping the active instruments off as a security preventative measure. Since NICMOS was recovered on November 1, no additional synchronization messages have actually been lost.
Hubble wanders over Earth after its release on May 19, 2009 by the team of the Space Shuttle Atlantis. Credit: NASA.
The group is now taking steps to recuperate Hubbles Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) instrument from safe mode and begin collecting science with that instrument at the beginning of next week. The group is continuing carefully to ensure the security of the instruments and prevent extra tensions on the hardware. ACS was selected as the very first instrument to recover as it deals with the fewest issues ought to a lost message occur.
Over the next week, the team will continue examining the Control Unit style diagrams and data associated with the lost messages to identify what may have triggered this issue. They will likewise be looking into potential instrument software application modifications that might help address it. When the team better comprehends the frequency of the issue and has figured out the time required to implement possible software modifications, they will talk about a strategy for returning the other instruments to science operations.
Hubble Space Telescope illustration. Credit: ESA/Hubble (M. Kornmesser).
NASA is continuing work to deal with a problem that has actually suspended science operations on the Hubble Space Telescope. The science instruments went into a safe mode setup on October 25 after finding a loss of particular data synchronization messages.
The Hubble team is focusing its efforts to isolate the problem on hardware that commands the instruments and belongs to the Science Instrument Command and Data Handling Unit. Specifically, the group is examining the circuitry of the Control Unit, which generates synchronization messages and passes them onto the instruments.
This is a cutaway diagram of the Hubble Space Telescope, with components identified. The forward shell houses the telescopes optical assembly. In the middle of the telescope are the response wheels and the bays that house the observatorys control electronics. The aft shroud houses the scientific instruments, gyroscopes, and star trackers. The instruments are situated in containers that make them easy to change and eliminate. Credit: NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center, ESA.
While examining the Control Unit, the group is working to recognize possible workarounds for the issue. These consist of possible changes to instrument flight software that could check for these lost messages and compensate for them without putting the instruments into safe mode. These workarounds would first be confirmed using ground simulators to ensure they work as planned.
