NASA Puts Hubble Space Telescope into Safe Mode

NASA has put the Hubble Space Telescope into “safe mode” to preserve its valuable data. The Little Dumbbell Nebula, the uncommon blue variable star AG Carinae, the Eta Carinae star, and a massive cluster of 3,000 stars have all been photographed by the telescope on multiple occasions.

The telescope has also captured images of three galaxies in a tug-of-war, the Orion Nebula, and the distant blue-green world Neptune. The telescope has also captured images of Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto, with the latter discovering four of its five moons.

Iconic Celestial Images Captured by Hubble Space Telescope

The Horsehead Nebula, a favorite target for astronomers, is captured in infrared wavelengths and is 1,600 light-years away from Earth. The telescope has also been used to study the atmosphere of Neptune and Pluto, with the latter discovering four of its five moons.

The telescope’s mission is to continue its mission to provide valuable insights into our solar system. The Cat’s Eye Nebula, a 1,000-year-old nebula in the constellation Draco, is a cloud of roiling gas from a dying star. The Bug Nebula, a cloud of roiling gas, is about 3,800 light years away in the constellation Scorpius. The Eagle Nebula, a massive nebula in the constellation Carina, is 7,500 light years away and is a nursery for new stars.

Remarkable Galaxies Documented by Hubble

The Andromeda Galaxy, one of the closest neighbors to our Milky Way, can be seen with the naked eye. The Cigar Galaxy, named after its shape, is 12 million light years away. The Sombrero Galaxy, named after its discoverer, Edouard Stephan, is about 290 million light years from Earth.

The Hubble Ultra-Deep Field, the deepest portrait of the visible universe, shows the first galaxies to emerge shortly after the Big Bang. The Lagoon Nebula, a tumultuous nursery full of newborn stars, is depicted in the 2018 Hubble image.

Notable Discoveries and Captured Images

The Hubble Space Telescope has provided breathtaking images and valuable insights into our solar system and beyond, including:

Eta Carinae: A star in a giant cluster of 3,000 stars.
Little Dumbbell Nebula: A planetary nebula.
AG Carinae: A rare blue variable star.
Orion Nebula: A star-forming region.
Neptune and Pluto: Detailed atmospheric studies, with Pluto’s four of its five moons discovered.
Horsehead Nebula: Captured in infrared wavelengths, 1,600 light-years away.
Cat’s Eye Nebula: A 1,000-year-old nebula in the constellation Draco.
Bug Nebula: A cloud of roiling gas, 3,800 light-years away in the constellation Scorpius.
Eagle Nebula: A massive nebula and star nursery, 7,500 light-years away.
Andromeda Galaxy: One of the Milky Way’s closest neighbors.
Cigar Galaxy: 12 million light-years away.
Sombrero Galaxy: About 290 million light-years from Earth.
Hubble Ultra-Deep Field: The deepest portrait of the visible universe, showing the first galaxies to emerge shortly after the Big Bang.
A furious nursery full of newborn stars is the lagoon nebula.

Transitioning to a New Operating Mode

NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope is set to transition to a new way of operating to prevent lapses in its ability to observe the universe. Six gyroscopes, which measure the telescope’s movement velocity, have been a standard operating system for the 34-year-old telescope that has produced breathtaking photographs of the universe.

One of the three gyroscopes that are still in use has been giving false readings for the past six months, which has repeatedly forced the telescope to enter “safe mode” and stop taking observations.

Adapting to Gyroscope Challenges

The Hubble crew chose to use just one gyro to operate Hubble after giving it some thought; the other gyro that is still operational will be saved for use in the future. The team has considered shifting the telescope to one-gyro mode to prolong its lifespan, but the change will reduce its efficiency and flexibility.

In order to get Hubble back to regular observations by mid-June, the team will adjust both the telescope and the ground system that feeds data to Hubble.

Extending Hubble’s Operations

Since one of the three working gyroscopes in the telescope has been acting up for months, the plan is to use the telescope in “one gyro” mode while the other two gyros are placed in sleep as a backup. The Sun sensors, magnetometers, and star trackers will cover for the inactive gyro.

Anticipating Future Discoveries

NASA anticipates that Hubble will continue making discoveries throughout this decade and possibly into the next, working with other observatories for the benefit of humanity.

Mission operations currently cost around $95 million annually, with the fiscal year 2025 budget request calling for a decrease to $89 million.

However, this new mode of operations will limit the telescope’s slew rate and won’t allow it to track targets closer than Mars. Additionally, the observing efficiency of the telescope overall will drop 12%, from 85 orbits of observation every week to 75.

Future Prospects for Hubble

Hubble is expected to operate through the remainder of this decade, with its expected entry into the Earth’s atmosphere not until the mid-2030s.

SpaceX had proposed sending a Crew Dragon mission to boost the space telescope’s orbit, but NASA representatives have stated that the agency is not currently considering any plans to conduct such a mission. Read more about Tech articles