Hubblesite: Advanced Camera for Surveys Suspends Operations (HT Dave Ayers)
Jan. 29, 2007 — Hubble’s Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS), the instrument whose work has dominated the telescope’s observation program, is currently not operating.
On Jan. 27, Hubble went into a self-protective hibernation called “safe mode.” This happens whenever Hubble’s computers measure a serious anomaly in the spacecraft’s operation. A pressure sensor located in the section of the telescope that houses the science instruments had detected a rise in pressure. At the same time, an electrical fuse blew in the ACS, probably as the result of a short circuit.
Hubble is currently out of safe mode and functioning normally. Science operations will resume this week.
Hubble still has significant science capabilities. The Near Infrared Camera and Multi-Object Spectrograph (NICMOS), the Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 (WFPC2), and the Fine Guidance Sensors (FGS) are all working. ACS was installed in 2002 and has met its expected lifespan of five years. …
Bummer.
Leave a Reply