Hubble offline
Discussion
Apparently all is not lost (possibly).
NASA said:
When designing an instrument like Hubble, to be operated remotely and difficult to access physically, failsafes are crucial.
So, in this case, the situation is not lost either. The payload computer (a NASA Standard Spacecraft Computer-1, or NSSC-1) has four 64-bit memory modules to draw on. It only uses one at any given time; the other three are backups.In addition, there is a second backup payload computer on-board that can be deployed in the event of a major problem.
So, assuming the second computer hasn't died too - and some of those memory modules are still functional - with a bit of luck it could go on running for another 30 years.So, in this case, the situation is not lost either. The payload computer (a NASA Standard Spacecraft Computer-1, or NSSC-1) has four 64-bit memory modules to draw on. It only uses one at any given time; the other three are backups.In addition, there is a second backup payload computer on-board that can be deployed in the event of a major problem.
Edited by TonyRPH on Saturday 26th June 12:59
I doubt it or the Boeing Starliner capsule were designed with that capability. They could certainly reach Hubble though. The Shuttle was pretty hopeless in what it could reach and they launched & returned to Hubble multiple times. The ISS now operates at a higher altitude than it used to when Shuttle was active, just so it could be reached.
There was some talk a few years ago about using Sierra Nevada’s Dream Chaser spaceplane for a Hubble servicing mission, but that didn’t go anywhere. Dream Chaser has yet to fly into space and isn’t due to do so until the second half of next year. It’s a long way from flying any crew.
There was some talk a few years ago about using Sierra Nevada’s Dream Chaser spaceplane for a Hubble servicing mission, but that didn’t go anywhere. Dream Chaser has yet to fly into space and isn’t due to do so until the second half of next year. It’s a long way from flying any crew.
Doubtful that the optics would survive the Starship terminal flip manoeuvre - they were hardened for launch, obviously, but that was a linear acceleration.
I seem to recall that NASA were gifted two telescopes with similar optical capability to the Hubble by the NRO and have them in storage somewhere - if NASA were going to maintain Hubble-type orbital telescope capacity, probably easier to get a good price from SpaceX to launch those two.
All of the money has been going on the JWST though. Hopefully that doesn't go tits up, but if it does some cheap and cheerful ex spy sats might still be able to enable some ongoing science, but the ground-breaking stuff needs the IR capacity that JWST promises.
Yes, NASA was given a couple of obsolete Keyhole spy satellites by the NRO in 2011. These have a 2.4 meter wide lens, the same as Hubble.
The plan is to use one of them as the basis for a new space telescope.. Originally called the Wide-Field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST) is has now been renamed to the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope. Usually just referred to as the Roman Space Telescope. This won’t launch until about 2025 though.
https://youtu.be/jPq2VVPjk_U
The Starship flip manoeuvre shouldn’t put much load an any cargo or crew because it rotates around the nose section. Up there, it should feel like a change of orientation rather than anything violent. Rotating seats should be sufficient for any crew. The forces would be more pronounced at the engine end, but they can handle it I’m sure.
The plan is to use one of them as the basis for a new space telescope.. Originally called the Wide-Field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST) is has now been renamed to the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope. Usually just referred to as the Roman Space Telescope. This won’t launch until about 2025 though.
https://youtu.be/jPq2VVPjk_U
The Starship flip manoeuvre shouldn’t put much load an any cargo or crew because it rotates around the nose section. Up there, it should feel like a change of orientation rather than anything violent. Rotating seats should be sufficient for any crew. The forces would be more pronounced at the engine end, but they can handle it I’m sure.
Hubble online again. 
NASA has successfully switched to backup hardware on the Hubble Space Telescope, including powering on the backup payload computer, on July 15. The switch was performed to compensate for a problem with the original payload computer that occurred on June 13 when the computer halted, suspending science data collection.
https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2021/operatio...
NASA has successfully switched to backup hardware on the Hubble Space Telescope, including powering on the backup payload computer, on July 15. The switch was performed to compensate for a problem with the original payload computer that occurred on June 13 when the computer halted, suspending science data collection.
https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2021/operatio...
Beati Dogu said:
Hubble online again.
NASA has successfully switched to backup hardware on the Hubble Space Telescope, including powering on the backup payload computer, on July 15. The switch was performed to compensate for a problem with the original payload computer that occurred on June 13 when the computer halted, suspending science data collection.
https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2021/operatio...
NASA has successfully switched to backup hardware on the Hubble Space Telescope, including powering on the backup payload computer, on July 15. The switch was performed to compensate for a problem with the original payload computer that occurred on June 13 when the computer halted, suspending science data collection.
https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2021/operatio...
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