Timeline of Hubble’s hitches
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NASA has placed its Hubble Space Telescope in “safe mode” configuration after the payload computer – which controls its science instruments – suddenly stopped working
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Apr 24, 1990: Hubble Space Telescope launched aboard
Space shuttle Discovery
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Dec 1993: Servicing Mission 1.
Crew of space shuttle Endeavour installs two optical instruments to correct effects of flawed shape of mirror
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1990
1995
2000
2005
2010
2015
2020
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Jun 27, 1990: NASA discovers imperfection in Hubble’s primary mirror which makes images blurred
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Feb 1997: Second service mission, conducted by crew of Discovery, extends Hubble’s wavelength range into near infrared
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Nov-Dec 1999: Hubble halts observation and enters safe mode following failure of four of six gyroscopes. Astronauts aboard shuttle Discovery install six new gyroscopes and computer
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Aug 2005: Hubble begins “two-gyro” science operations in bid to preserve operating life of third gyro and extend Hubble’s science observations
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Sep 2008: Hubble enters safe mode again following failure in science data formatter
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May 2009: Astronauts aboard space shuttle Atlantis complete fifth and final servicing mission
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Jun 13, 2021: Hubble suddenly stops working. NASA is preparing and testing procedures to use backup hardware onboard 31-year-old telescope
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Sources and images: UPI, NASA, ESA, Hubble Heritage Team © GRAPHIC NEWS