NASA Details Latest Hubble Side B Plans
I wrote about Hubble’s troubles a few days ago. The Hubble Space Telescope is currently off line due to a communications-formatter failure. As of Saturday, NASA’s plans call for switching Hubble science instrumentation communications to Side B on Wednesday, October 8. Engineers have carried out a dry run (it was a paper run, so “dry lab” might be a more appropriate description) that was apparently successful enough to go forward. Meanwhile there’s a spare Science Instrument Command and Data Handling (SICDH) system at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland (presumably sitting in storage for the last 20 years) that’s undergoing pre-flight testing and qualification. If the new/old SICDH box qualifies, expect to see it added to the list of repair items that will eventually go up on the Shuttle repair mission, now postponed until some time next year.
Meanwhile, I watched an engrossing program about Hubble on the National Geographic Channel last night. It’s called “Hubble’s Amazing Universe” and what’s truly amazing is the massive amount of astronomical and astrophysical science that Hubble has racked up in the last 18 years. Highly recommended viewing for anyone interested in Hubble and space. Next broadcast: Sunday, October 12. Set your TIVO now.
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