The Hubble Space Telescope has lost a majority of its gyroscopes (arstechnica.com)
from threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works to astronomy@mander.xyz on 05 Jun 2024 04:47
https://sh.itjust.works/post/20379283

#astronomy

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autotldr@lemmings.world on 05 Jun 2024 04:50 next collapse

This is the best summary I could come up with:


The venerable Hubble Space Telescope is running out of gyroscopes, and when none are left, the instrument will cease to conduct meaningful science.

“I don’t personally see this as a major restriction on its ability to do science,” said Mark Clampin, director of the Astrophysics Division at NASA headquarters in Washington, DC.

The last of these servicing missions, flown by space shuttle Atlantis in 2009, performed numerous upgrades, including the replacement of all six gyroscopes that help to orient and point the telescope.

The telescope’s project manager, Patrick Crouse, said there is a 70 percent chance that Hubble can maintain science operations using a single gyroscope through 2035.

After NASA and SpaceX conducted a feasibility study late that year it was recommended that the space agency continue investigating the possibility of a commercial mission.

NASA has evidently decided that it is safer to let Hubble age out on its own, than take a chance on private hands touching the hallowed telescope.


The original article contains 826 words, the summary contains 161 words. Saved 81%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!

downpunxx@fedia.io on 05 Jun 2024 06:23 collapse

ground control to major tom, your circuits dead, there's something wrong, can you hear me major tom

XTL@sopuli.xyz on 05 Jun 2024 08:57 collapse

We can’t really say that we’re

Surprised

It’s a shame

There’s always something that gets compromised