Control System Failure Cuts Off Science

and May Affect Servicing Mission

Well this is bad news. NASA Spaceflight.com is reporting that science operations on Hubble Space Telescope have been shut down by the failure of the “Side A” control system. The telescope is in safe mode but is without any way to run the science instruments. HST’s technical handlers are working to transfer control of science operations to a Side B backup system, but this will take some time.  Side B has never been used on orbit, but is assumed to be in working condition. If it works, then science can resume.

However, from what I’m able to glean from several websites, this may affect the servicing mission scheduled for an October 14 launch.  If Side B can be activated and used, then the mission may well go on as scheduled.  If Side B is not working, the mission could be delayed into 2009 in order to figure out a repair strategy.  This is still a developing situation, so stay tuned.

Update: the upcoming repair mission for HST has been delayed until 2009, and the telescope’s handlers will work to bring up Side B to use until the astronauts have been trained on replacing the parts for Side A (and those parts can be put together).  For an in-depth look at the issues, check out Phil Plait’s Bad Astronomy Blog.

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In other news: I was on travel last week and didn’t get a chance to blog about the Chinese space mission until now. I think it’s very cool and wish their agency the best of luck!  In a way it was like watching the U.S.’s own first steps in space in the late 50s and early 60s.  Congrats to the Chinese taikonauts!

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