Computer suffered a problem a week ago. Backup computer is available but, as of 18 Jun, had not yet been tried.
https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/20 ... -telescope
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- Francoflier
- Posts: 6554
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Re: Hubble - Payload Computer Problem
I hope they can get it back online, but I'm not sure how much life Hubble has in it anymore...
The JWST can't come soon enough.
I've always wondered whether a Crew Dragon could be sent to Hubble to perform repair missions (if they are even worth it at this stage). The lack of an airlock and robotic arm would probably restrict what could realistically be done. I'm not even sure a spacewalk-rated suit can fit through the hatch.
Still, if JWST fails for whatever reason (it is a rather high risk mission), it may be worth finding ways to give Hubble a new lease on life.
Maybe an Orion would be more suited to the task, but given the cost of an SLS launch, you're probably better off building and launching a brand new telescope...
The JWST can't come soon enough.
I've always wondered whether a Crew Dragon could be sent to Hubble to perform repair missions (if they are even worth it at this stage). The lack of an airlock and robotic arm would probably restrict what could realistically be done. I'm not even sure a spacewalk-rated suit can fit through the hatch.
Still, if JWST fails for whatever reason (it is a rather high risk mission), it may be worth finding ways to give Hubble a new lease on life.
Maybe an Orion would be more suited to the task, but given the cost of an SLS launch, you're probably better off building and launching a brand new telescope...
Re: Hubble - Payload Computer Problem
I suspect only option for repair on orbit is SpaceX & Starship. Starship isn’t anywhere near ready.
Maybe backup computer will work.
Maybe backup computer will work.
Re: Hubble - Payload Computer Problem
We have a lot of keyhole satellites up there, and Hubble is essentially the same thing but pointed outward, from what I’ve read. I’d expect if it did suddenly fail that there could be discussions to launch an upgraded basic replacement. KH-11 and KH-12 with optics also by Perkin Elmer probably could be adapted, if NASA somehow wanted to move fast, to work. JWST is gonna be great I hope but it is amazing to me no direct successor to Hubble has ever been fabricated/considered.
https://www.universetoday.com/65458/spy ... ook-alike/
https://www.nextbigfuture.com/2012/06/h ... s-spy.html
And before folks ask/comment about the cost, note that, again, supposedly/rumor is NASA was offered 2 for free that were ‘surplus’ for whatever reason.
http://www.spacesafetymagazine.com/spac ... satellite/
https://spaceflightnow.com/2015/05/01/n ... g-in-2018/
https://science.howstuffworks.com/question529.htm
https://www.universetoday.com/65458/spy ... ook-alike/
https://www.nextbigfuture.com/2012/06/h ... s-spy.html
And before folks ask/comment about the cost, note that, again, supposedly/rumor is NASA was offered 2 for free that were ‘surplus’ for whatever reason.
http://www.spacesafetymagazine.com/spac ... satellite/
https://spaceflightnow.com/2015/05/01/n ... g-in-2018/
https://science.howstuffworks.com/question529.htm
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- flyingturtle
- Posts: 6590
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Re: Hubble - Payload Computer Problem
texl1649 wrote:And before folks ask/comment about the cost, note that, again, supposedly/rumor is NASA was offered 2 for free that were ‘surplus’ for whatever reason.
My understanding is that Nancy Grace Roman Telescope (formerly the WFIRST) makes use of that offered NRO material.
Re: Hubble - Payload Computer Problem
NASA appears confident that the backup computer can take over but are currently running diagnostics on the primary computer to understand what exactly went wrong.
If Hubble is indeed lost entirely, it would be easier to build a replacement than to launch a repair mission. Unlike in the past when a dedicated in-orbit servicing vehicle - the Space Shuttle - was readily available, you'd have to develop a robotic arm, an airlock and other systems from scratch to fit them to Dragon.
If Hubble is indeed lost entirely, it would be easier to build a replacement than to launch a repair mission. Unlike in the past when a dedicated in-orbit servicing vehicle - the Space Shuttle - was readily available, you'd have to develop a robotic arm, an airlock and other systems from scratch to fit them to Dragon.
Re: Hubble - Payload Computer Problem
JWST doesn't really replace Hubble-- it's a different sort of instrument. Better, of course, but not a total replacement.
The 2021 proposed budget for NASA axed WFIRST and SOFIA-- haven't heard where that all went.
The 2021 proposed budget for NASA axed WFIRST and SOFIA-- haven't heard where that all went.
Re: Hubble - Payload Computer Problem
ssteve wrote:JWST doesn't really replace Hubble-- it's a different sort of instrument. Better, of course, but not a total replacement.
The 2021 proposed budget for NASA axed WFIRST and SOFIA-- haven't heard where that all went.
Exactly. Presumably, the recent Bezos Bailout (aka ‘national team’ HLS award via legislation) is where some of those funds went.
Re: Hubble - Payload Computer Problem
NGRST is in the FY2022 proposal, though it isn't a 100% replacement for Hubble. Hubble can observe the full visible spectrum and some UV while NGRST is limited to approx. 480 nm, which excludes blue, violet and UV light.
NASA once again wants to axe SOFIA, though. I disagree with NASA's assessment that JWST makes it redundant, though I suppose they need the money for crewed lunar missions and all the fancy planetary probes they recently announced.
NASA once again wants to axe SOFIA, though. I disagree with NASA's assessment that JWST makes it redundant, though I suppose they need the money for crewed lunar missions and all the fancy planetary probes they recently announced.
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- kitplane01
- Posts: 2917
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Re: Hubble - Payload Computer Problem
texl1649 wrote:We have a lot of keyhole satellites up there, and Hubble is essentially the same thing but pointed outward, from what I’ve read. I’d expect if it did suddenly fail that there could be discussions to launch an upgraded basic replacement. KH-11 and KH-12 with optics also by Perkin Elmer probably could be adapted, if NASA somehow wanted to move fast, to work. JWST is gonna be great I hope but it is amazing to me no direct successor to Hubble has ever been fabricated/considered.
https://www.universetoday.com/65458/spy ... ook-alike/
https://www.nextbigfuture.com/2012/06/h ... s-spy.html
And before folks ask/comment about the cost, note that, again, supposedly/rumor is NASA was offered 2 for free that were ‘surplus’ for whatever reason.
http://www.spacesafetymagazine.com/spac ... satellite/
https://spaceflightnow.com/2015/05/01/n ... g-in-2018/
https://science.howstuffworks.com/question529.htm
The Hubble has very good spectrographic capabilities, which are really really important in astronomy, but not for spy satellites. It's not really enough to just take pretty pictures any more.
Re: Hubble - Payload Computer Problem
I knew this would happen when I threw out all my old 486 boards.
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- Francoflier
- Posts: 6554
- Joined:
Re: Hubble - Payload Computer Problem
Hubble is down again, for the third time this year...
The orbiting telescope went into safe mode late October due to the loss of 'synchronization messages'.
Engineers are still troubleshooting and expect the process to last at least another week.
https://spacenews.com/hubble-remains-in ... st-glitch/
The orbiting telescope went into safe mode late October due to the loss of 'synchronization messages'.
Engineers are still troubleshooting and expect the process to last at least another week.
https://spacenews.com/hubble-remains-in ... st-glitch/
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