Hubble’s Gyroscope Glitch: One Solution, One Scope at a Time

In November, a specific gyroscope on the Hubble spacecraft caused it to enter safe mode due to erroneous readings. The team is currently working on a solution to resolve this issue. One potential solution is to reconfigure the aircraft to operate with only one gyroscope, while placing the failed gyroscope in reserve.

During the space shuttle’s fifth and final servicing mission in 2009, six new gyroscopes were installed on Hubble. Currently, three of these gyroscopes are still in operation, including the one that has fluctuations. Hubble normally uses three gyroscopes to increase efficiency, but it can still conduct scientific observations with just one gyroscope if necessary. The team is assessing the situation and will implement any necessary changes to ensure the spacecraft can effectively continue its mission.