NASA has had a major loss as their Hubble Space Telescope has lost its main camera. The main camera loss can only be marginally restored until NASA reaches out in space and replaces the defected instrument.
The failed camera known as the ACS or Advanced Camera for Surveys was deployed in March 2002 and had taken the images of the universe in its infancy.
NASA managers have stated that they can only restart one of the three components of the failed instrument.
The lost instrument was the newest and the most advances camera onboard Hubble.
Before the failure NASA was already planning a mission to visit Hubble and add a new instrument that will do everything that the ACS was doing. This new instrument can do all the work but the problem is that it is not as fast as the original onboard instrument.
This mission will be undertaken by NASA in September 2008. Till that time we can say that the famous space telescope will return to low functionality mode.
After the September 2008 mission Hubble will have the new instrument and astronauts will also update the onboard batteries and pointing devices.
NASA officials have also ruled out repairing the faulty instrument as it’s difficult to reach and there will already be enough work pressure on the astronauts.
The problem actually is traced back to last summer when the main power supply of the instrument had had a failure and since then the telescope was relying on the backup power system. But now the backup power supply was confronted with a blown fuse and it too shut down.
This instrument was installed in March 2002 and had a lifetime of about five years. NASA officials have also stated that the instrument has almost completed its lifetime. But many other instruments onboard Hubble is working well beyond their expected lifetime. Some similar instruments and machines that are working beyond their expected life include the two rovers that are on Mars. Both of them had a life of three months and they still are working great for the past three years...!
Via: usatoday
