I just heard that something has gone awry with the switching on of the backup system on Hubble. It’s not clear what’s going on as I write this or how serious it is, but Hubble has gone back into "safe mode" which is when it shuts itself down and awaits new orders. NASA is planning a telecon on this at 3:00 Eastern time. I unfortunately won’t be around to listen, but it will be webcast on their site.
I’ll post more info as I find it.
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Phil Plait, the creator of Bad Astronomy, is an astronomer, lecturer, and author. After ten years working on Hubble Space Telescope and six more working on astronomy education, he struck out on his own as a writer. He has written two books, dozens of magazine articles, and 12 bazillion blog articles. He is a skeptic, and fights misuses of science as well as praising the wonder of real science.
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October 17th, 2008 at 12:20 pm
But everything was going along so well. B-side telemetry looked good. Maybe it’s thermal issue – these usually kicks in after a delay.
October 17th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
’scuse my grammar. publik skool lernt me well.
October 17th, 2008 at 12:22 pm
This is an instance where I sincerely wish we could all mentally influence Hubble with our well wishes and thoughts to fix itself.
Hmmm, has NASA considered putting some psychics on the spot? If they are so confident in their abilities, they should have everything fixed in a jiffy.
October 17th, 2008 at 12:54 pm
skepTick: I wondered about thermal issues as well… let’s hope for the best here!
October 17th, 2008 at 12:55 pm
It’s a shame kicking it isn’t an option from 600 miles away.
October 17th, 2008 at 1:05 pm
webcast delayed until 16:00 EDT
October 17th, 2008 at 1:12 pm
It’s Mercury’s fault, clearly.
October 17th, 2008 at 1:31 pm
I think McCain is behind this. He thinks the Hubble is a kaleidoscope.
October 17th, 2008 at 1:37 pm
Back to ’safe mode’?
the F8 key is stuck!
J/P=?
October 17th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
Phil (et al.): The HST486 (replacement to the DF-224) computer that manages the spacecraft pointing control and other subsystem tasks safed, as it is supposed to do, the NSSC-1 (NASA Standard Spacecraft Computer 1) that normally interfaces with the science instruments, and then the SI’s themselves at 21:14 UT. The two computers “talk” to each other across what is known as a “Processor Interface Table”, or PIT. A continual “handshake” (PIT toggle) between the two computers is expected. If the DF-224 does not get that handshake it presumes the NSSC-1 may have a problem and, through a predefined sequence of inter-computer commands puts the NSSC-1, and then seperately the HST Instruments into a “safe” configuration. Of course, then, the “stored command plan”, which was on a path for recovery to restart science, carried out by the NSSC-1, is suspended.
What caused the loss of the PIT toggle? That is still under investigation. But, what is known is that the redundant “Command Unit/Science Data Formatter B”, part of the Command and Data Handling (C&DH) unit side A, that failed after 18 years is apparently fine. In fact, the NSSC-1 memory after it was safed was successfully dumped to the ground through CU/SDF-B. A preliminary analysis of that memory dump points to a “potential problem” (emphasis is on potential, as this is quite early in the investigation) in the Central Processor Module (CPM) on C&DH Side B. But unclear if that is a potential H/W, configuration (remember everything was just switched over to Side B with a lot of reconfiguring), or S/W “problem” – so I would not jump to any conclusions ahead of the good folks at Goddard looking at this carefully and methodically.
In the short term… As the CPM is redundant – AND can be cross-strapped- (in a
side A/B hybrid configuration) by ground command, Goddard is in the process of moving contingency operating procedures to affect that cross-strap using the high-fidelity Hubble simulator (the VEST “Vehicle Electrical and Test” facility). That may already have been done as I write this, and thus (presuming that ground test is succesful, as I would expect it to be), the COP would be available to do the same on-orbit if further diagnostics and analysis indicate a side A/B hybrid would (for now) take care of the problem.
The above is an “unofficial” explanitory status. Look to NASA for the official word.
Glenn Schneider
October 17th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
Thanks 10^6 Glenn!
The show is underway… Typing & listening…
Rich
October 17th, 2008 at 2:34 pm
Glenn: superb explanation–deep yet not overwhelmingly technical.
Bottom line is that Hubble needs some TLC from some astronauts. We’re very lucky that these problems didn’t break out after the orbiter had come and gone, because another repair mission would have been all but impossible from a political standpoint.
October 17th, 2008 at 2:47 pm
It’s very cool to see how these articles can evolve with some of the comments. Awesome Glenn.
Although I clearly have no real understanding of the computer equipment on Hubble, it’s nice to hear from somebody that does, and seems to think that NASA can fix it.
October 17th, 2008 at 5:53 pm
Thanks Glenn! For everyone’s info, Glenn is an old friend, and we worked together on a few Hubble observations led by him. He knows his stuff!
October 17th, 2008 at 6:24 pm
Yes, just click on his name and you’ll see for yourself. His C.V. is impressive!
October 17th, 2008 at 9:40 pm
Did anyone consider that the problem might be condensation? You know, it’s really cold at those altitudes and if there’s any humidity in the atmosphere….oh wait.
Nevermind.
October 18th, 2008 at 6:27 am
William won my best post of the thread & day award on October 17th, 2008 at 1:31 pm with :
“I think McCain is behind this. He thinks the Hubble is a kaleidoscope.”
Classic.
ROTFLMAO!
Mercury to blame? Well if its a thermal issue then * the mercury * (hg) is a bit of an issue ..
———-
NB. Hg = Mercury as in Na =Sodium & Cl =Chlorine & Au = Gold.
October 31st, 2008 at 7:13 pm
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