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Hubble’s main camera stops working
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/13507599/
Hubble’s main camera stops working
Cause is unknown, but managers are ‘very optimistic’ about fix
The Hubble Space Telescope's showcase camera has been offline since Monday.
Managers are scrambling to use the observatory's other cameras as science operations continue. Meanwhile, engineers have yet to figure out what caused the Advanced Camera for Surveys, or ACS, to go into "safe mode," essentially a sleep state that prevents normal operations. But the outlook is bright.
"We're very optimistic" that the camera will be fixed, said Ed Ruitberg, associate program manager for Hubble at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center.
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Ruitberg told Space.com that some potential causes have been ruled out and that the problem is likely with a low-voltage power supply interface, something between the batteries and a camera component. If that's the case, then redundant electronics can be relied on to bypass the problem area.
"We're still investigating the problem and working on all sorts of contingencies," said Max Mutchler at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, where Hubble's science operations are run. "We're hoping for the best but preparing for other contingencies."
The ACS, installed on the orbiting observatory by astronauts in 2002, has gone into safe mode "more than once" recently, Mutchler said, but this time the problem is more serious.
"We've recovered from these before," Mutchler told Space.com. "But this is kind of a little bit longer and is more involved than previous ones that were simple software resets."
Various approaches to solve the problem are being tentatively planned, but they can't be implemented until the core problem is known. "Right now we don't know what the core problem is," Mutchler said.
Ruitberg said if the investigation reveals what he suspects, then a reconfiguration could take place June 30 and the camera would be started up again. Even if the root problem is something else, he said, other repair options are likely available. Ultimately, he "fully expects" the camera to work again.
If ACS can be fixed, then Hubble's overall science operations should not be compromised much, said Bruce Margon, the Space Telescope Science Institute's associate director for science.
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I think it was hijacked by aliens.
http://bestsmileys.com/aliens/11.gif
http://bestsmileys.com/aliens/9.gifhttp://bestsmileys.com/aliens/9.gifhttp://bestsmileys.com/aliens/9.gif
http://bestsmileys.com/aliens/12.gif
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/13507599/
Hubble’s main camera stops working
Cause is unknown, but managers are ‘very optimistic’ about fix
The Hubble Space Telescope's showcase camera has been offline since Monday.
Managers are scrambling to use the observatory's other cameras as science operations continue. Meanwhile, engineers have yet to figure out what caused the Advanced Camera for Surveys, or ACS, to go into "safe mode," essentially a sleep state that prevents normal operations. But the outlook is bright.
"We're very optimistic" that the camera will be fixed, said Ed Ruitberg, associate program manager for Hubble at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center.
Story continues below ↓ advertisement
Ruitberg told Space.com that some potential causes have been ruled out and that the problem is likely with a low-voltage power supply interface, something between the batteries and a camera component. If that's the case, then redundant electronics can be relied on to bypass the problem area.
"We're still investigating the problem and working on all sorts of contingencies," said Max Mutchler at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, where Hubble's science operations are run. "We're hoping for the best but preparing for other contingencies."
The ACS, installed on the orbiting observatory by astronauts in 2002, has gone into safe mode "more than once" recently, Mutchler said, but this time the problem is more serious.
"We've recovered from these before," Mutchler told Space.com. "But this is kind of a little bit longer and is more involved than previous ones that were simple software resets."
Various approaches to solve the problem are being tentatively planned, but they can't be implemented until the core problem is known. "Right now we don't know what the core problem is," Mutchler said.
Ruitberg said if the investigation reveals what he suspects, then a reconfiguration could take place June 30 and the camera would be started up again. Even if the root problem is something else, he said, other repair options are likely available. Ultimately, he "fully expects" the camera to work again.
If ACS can be fixed, then Hubble's overall science operations should not be compromised much, said Bruce Margon, the Space Telescope Science Institute's associate director for science.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
I think it was hijacked by aliens.
http://bestsmileys.com/aliens/11.gif
http://bestsmileys.com/aliens/9.gifhttp://bestsmileys.com/aliens/9.gifhttp://bestsmileys.com/aliens/9.gif
http://bestsmileys.com/aliens/12.gif
