The problem comes down to the computer that controls the Hubble telescope’s scientific equipment. The most recent Hubble team check-in looked at the

NASA’s Hubble telescope fiasco gives China a huge opportunity

submited by

Style Pass

2021-07-19 08:00:07

The problem comes down to the computer that controls the Hubble telescope’s scientific equipment. The most recent Hubble team check-in looked at the computing module that actually formats the commands, aptly named the Command Unit/Science Data Formatter, or a power regulator, which ensures the right voltage is being sent to each piece of equipment.

But on Wednesday, June 30, NASA revealed that tests over the last week haven’t narrowed down potential issues. The team is now gearing up to switch the Hubble over to backup versions of both instruments.

Without Hubble, there’s no telescope at NASA able to capture images in certain spectrums — which could give the China National Space Administration a chance to fill that void instead.

The move to switching to backup equipment could be risky, NASA says. Since these specific components interact with so many other pieces on the spacecraft, other back-ups need to be switched on as well. The team will first review all the procedures and commands necessary to make the switch on the 40-year-old hardware, and then perform a test run in a “high-fidelity simulator.” If that’s successful, NASA will make the switch on the real Hubble.

NASA notes that a similar switch to the same component was successfully completed in 2008, right before a 2009 service mission swapped out the faulty hardware for a new set.