HUBBLE is Disabled-HOUSTON WE HAVE A PROBLEM

September 29, 2008

“HOUSTON WE HAVE A PROBLEM”…Originally a genuine report of a life threatening fault. Now used humorously to report any kind of problem, from the Project Apollo 13 Flight.

Today, I use the phrase “HOUSTON WE HAVE A PROBLEM,” as NASA is delaying its mission to the Hubble Space Telescope until next year because of a serious breakdown of the observatory already in orbit.

***Hubble PIC is a Panoramic Hubble Image for 17th Launch Anniversary (NASA)***

The flight which would have included the Atlantis team was scheduled for blast off on October 14, to make other repairs and upgrades on Hubble.

Saturday night, the telescope stopped sending scientific data back. This will be a new repair issue for the astronauts to confront but more importantly. it is one that the Atlantis crew is not trained for.

For all of you space lovers out there, like my friend Rhea, this means that the command and data handling system for Hubble’s science instruments, the telescope, is unable to capture and beam down the data needed to produce deep space images.

Hubble PIC NGC7662 from NASA

This ground breaking flight might not happen until February of 2009. And when the fight does go up it will more than likely carry the replacement part for Hubble.

There is a back up channel for the science instruments’ command and data handling system. But, NASA has not yet tried to activate the late 1980’s or early 1990 data transmission system.
Plus, there will be no other options, if it relies only on the backup channel.

NASA and it’s scientists have stressed that the telescope is not in trouble, it is only unable to send science information to ground controllers.

The up coming mission by Atlantis will be the fifth and final servicing mission to Hubble. It will be flown and serviced by a seven member crew.

For those of you wondering why Endeavour can’t go up with the equipment, since it is already on the launch pad for it’s November launch…NASA has not confirmed that…perhaps it is do to the training for the repairs. I am not privy to NASA. Endeavor is supposed to be a rescue ship for Atlantis, in case of an emergency.

For more information and scientific mumbo-jumbo, here is what CNN News and Yahoo have to report. They are a lot better at all of the technical information than I am.

Keeping an eye to the sky…
~The Baby Boomer Queen~

Here are some great space and Hubble Items

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