Last week, NASA put the 'scope into safe mode, while it evaluated a gyro- issue. The 'scope will now resume imaging -- using the three remaining good gyroscopes. Excellent -- and honestly. . . surprising -- news:
. . .NASA plans to restore the agency’s Hubble Space Telescope to science operations Friday, Dec. 8, following a series of tests to gain insight into the gyro performance that caused the spacecraft to pause science operations last week.
After analyzing the data, the team has determined science operations can resume under three-gyro control. Based on the performance observed during the tests, the team has decided to operate the gyros in a higher-precision mode during science observations. Hubble’s instruments and the observatory itself remain stable and in good health. . . .
That is -- absolutely -- an unexpected holiday gift. I had pretty much guessed that this would be end of mission, for the now nearly 34 year old prodigy. Some times, the cold of space -- along with constant radiation blasts, over three decades. . . end the circuits' ability to function. But that day is not. . . today. Grin.
नमस्ते
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