On June 13, 2021, NASA's Hubble Space Telescope suspended operations due to a payload computer malfunction, likely caused by long-term radiation exposure in space. Expert teams are actively working to restore full functionality.
Launched in 1990 and marking its 30th anniversary in orbit last year, Hubble halted science operations that Sunday, according to NASA. The issue stems from degradation in one of the payload computer's memory modules—a reliable Spacecraft Computer-1 (NSSC-1) from the 1980s that manages the observatory's instruments. When the main computer stopped receiving data from it, Hubble automatically entered "safe mode" and alerted ground control.
This specific memory module was last replaced during a 2009 servicing mission by astronauts.
NASA's update states: "Analysis indicates that the error is likely due to a degraded memory issue. Memory can deteriorate over time due to years of exposure to radiation in space. Issues like this are expected, which is why there are backup memory modules on the spacecraft that we can switch to if needed."
Engineers are now switching to redundant memory modules. Once verified through testing, Hubble will resume normal science operations.
"Assuming this problem is corrected through one of the many options available to the operations team, Hubble should continue to make amazing discoveries until the late 2020s or beyond," NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center operations team told Space.com.
Hubble has faced technical hurdles before. A 1993 servicing mission addressed pointing control errors and primary mirror flaws, with subsequent repairs via Space Shuttle flights.
More recently, in March 2021, a software glitch triggered safe mode, but Hubble recovered within days.
