NASA has briefly closed the camera of a single of its space-primarily based telescopes following a electric power challenge. The closure of the digicam eye of the Chandra X-Ray Observatory, which has been finding out the pretty scorching areas of the Universe for over two decades, has halted its science operate. The telescope experienced a ability source dilemma with its Large-Resolution Digital camera (HRC) instrument on February 9, the room company reported. NASA scientists are now analysing the dilemma and deciding the ideal reaction to get the observatory again to operate as soon as possible.
NASA reported they have so much not detected any difficulty with the spacecraft, which is working typically. The Chandra X-ray Observatory, which was launched in 1999 aboard the House Shuttle Columbia, has delivered a wealth of pictures and knowledge that have assisted scientists improved recognize and unpack the several mysteries and evolution of the cosmos.
“On Wednesday, February 9, 2022, routine monitoring information from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory indicated a electricity offer trouble in the spacecraft’s Significant-Resolution Camera,” NASA mentioned this 7 days. Engineers doing the job on the mission have paused science operations and place the four science devices into harmless mode, it extra.
Individually, the Chandra X-ray Middle Director’s Business produced an update on Twitter, stating the Large-Resolution Digicam was “powered down after remaining discovered in an anomalous state”. The notice included that the induce guiding this was getting investigated. Scientists are attempting to resume procedure utilizing a distinct instrument, called the Highly developed CCD Imaging Spectrograph or ACIS, by early up coming 7 days.
Chandra’s High Resolution Camera (HRC) was powered down just after remaining learned in an anomalous condition. The cause is presently beneath investigation.
All other aspects of Chandra are executing nominally and function is underway to resume ACIS science observations by early following 7 days.
— Chandra CDO (@chandraCDO) February 16, 2022
The current glitch is just not the first time the X-ray observatory has faced a issue. In August 2020, the digital camera stopped working because of a distinctive anomaly. Right before that, the mission endured a glitch owing to the failure of the gyroscope. The telescope commenced operating commonly after a week on that occasion.
NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory was originally designed to serve only 5 a long time but has been working for over two a long time.
