Hubble Space Telescope Enters ‘Safe Mode’ Due to Faulty Gyroscope: A Setback, But NASA Remains Optimistic about the Future of this Groundbreaking Observatory

The Hubble Space Telescope, launched in 1990, has been temporarily halted from science operations due to a faulty gyroscope. This gyroscope is responsible for measuring the telescope’s rate of rotation and determining its orientation. NASA has placed Hubble in safe mode on April 23 while waiting for further instructions. Despite the malfunctioning gyroscope, NASA reported that the instruments on Hubble are stable and the overall health of the telescope is good.

This isn’t the first time that a faulty gyroscope has caused Hubble to be placed in safe mode; a similar issue occurred in November 2023. The team operating Hubble is currently working on potential solutions to this gyroscope problem. If the faulty gyro cannot be recovered, Hubble could potentially be reconfigured to operate with just one gyro, with the other operational gyro being placed in reserve. These gyroscopes were installed in Hubble during its final space shuttle servicing mission in 2009 after 19 years of service, with three still remaining, including the problematic gyro.

NASA has expressed confidence that Hubble will continue to make groundbreaking discoveries and work alongside observatories like the James Webb Space Telescope in the coming years. Despite this setback, NASA remains optimistic about the future of Hubble and its exploration of the cosmos.