The Hubble telescope, which recently celebrated its 34th anniversary since its launch from Earth, is currently in safe mode due to an ongoing gyroscope issue. NASA is currently working to resolve the glitch that caused the telescope to enter safe mode on April 23. While the gyroscopes are responsible for measuring the telescope’s turn rates and direction, one of the gyroscopes gave faulty readings, prompting the telescope to enter safe mode.
This is not the first time Hubble has entered safe mode due to a gyroscope issue. The same problem occurred in November 2023, and the team is working to identify potential solutions to the current problem. If necessary, the spacecraft can operate with only one gyro while the others remain in reserve. Hubble had six gyroscopes installed during a space shuttle servicing mission in 2009, and three of them are still operational.
Despite the current issue, NASA remains confident in Hubble’s ability to continue making groundbreaking discoveries and scientific observations. The telescope has played a crucial role in modern astrophysics, making over 1.6 million observations and contributing to 44,000 scientific papers. To mark its 34th anniversary, astronomers captured a new image of the Little Dumbbell Nebula, located 3,400 light-years away. Additionally, NASA is looking forward to Hubble’s continued collaboration with other observatories, such as the James Webb Space Telescope
