NASA needs more time to check backup computer, Hubble mission delayed

William Atkins
Friday, 31 October 2008 04:27

Science - Space

Consequently, STS-125, the 125th space shuttle flight, and its mission to service the Hubble Space Telescope is now tentatively scheduled to launch no earlier than April or May in 2009.

Space shuttle Atlantis had been on its launch pad, but was rolled back to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) on October 20, 2008.

Hubble seems to be working normally now after NASA ground controllers switched from primary Side A data relay channel to backup Side B channel within the SIC&DH computer.

Although the telescope appears to be working properly, there is now not a backup for the computer if the Side B channel decides to quit.

Consequently, NASA hopes to deliver an old-but-never-used SIC&DH computer to replace the one that is having problems onboard the Hubble.

Side A quit on September 27, 2008. Since then, NASA has switched to Side B. Initially, it did not totally work, but NASA ground controllers have been able to solve the “glitches.”

Over the past few days, NASA engineers and controllers have been able to reactivate the main science instruments.

In fact, Hubble has delivered some magnificant images. For some of these images, see the Fox News article "Hubble Telescope Photographs Cosmic 'Perfect 10'."

Additional information on the STS-125 crew is found at NASA STS-125.