Hubble Space Telescope may now depend on a computer that hasn't booted since 2009

Science work by the orbiting rig came to a halt on June 13 after the computer tasked with controlling the instruments stopped responding to the main computer, and its sensors were put into safe mode as a precaution. Attempts to restart the system as normal have been unsuccessful, leaving the telescope largely useless.

At first, NASA thought the issue was down to a memory module that had failed due to an accumulation of radiation damage, which was causing the instrumentation computer to lock up. Switching to a backup memory module didn't fix the problem. Now the agency says the memory errors may be a symptom of another fault, rather than the root cause, and it may be time to switch to a backup instrument computer.

Specifically, the agency believes the current instrument computer's Central Processing Module (CPM) and Standard Interface (STINT), which connects the CPM to Hubble's other systems, may be broken, and thus hopes the backup instrument computer's CPM and STINT are in working shape. NASA may therefore power up the backup computer and test it before making it the active instrumentation computer and restoring Hubble's scientific operations.

“These have included tests on numerous memory modules. After reviewing the schematics and test results, indications are that the problem is likely in the Standard Interface (STINT) or the Central Processing Module (CPM) that interfaces to those items and not in the memory modules. The next tests will be on the STINT and CPM.”

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