NASA has briefly closed the digital camera of one in all its space-based telescopes following an influence concern. The closure of the digital camera eye of the Chandra X-ray Observatory, which has been learning the very popular areas of the Universe for over 20 years, has halted its science work. The telescope suffered an influence provide downside with its Excessive-Decision Digicam (HRC) instrument on February 9, the house company stated. NASA scientists are actually analysing the issue and figuring out the suitable response to get the observatory again to work as quickly as attainable.
NASA stated they’ve up to now not detected any downside with the spacecraft, which is working usually. The Chandra X-ray Observatory, which was launched in 1999 aboard the Area Shuttle Columbia, has delivered a wealth of photographs and knowledge which have helped scientists higher perceive and unpack the numerous mysteries and evolution of the cosmos.
“On Wednesday, February 9, 2022, routine monitoring knowledge from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory indicated an influence provide downside within the spacecraft’s Excessive-Decision Digicam,” NASA stated this week. Engineers engaged on the mission have paused science operations and put the 4 science devices into protected mode, it added.
Individually, the Chandra X-ray Middle Director’s Workplace launched an replace on Twitter, saying the Excessive-Decision Digicam was “powered down after being found in an anomalous state”. The discover added that the trigger behind this was being investigated. Scientists try to renew operation utilizing a unique instrument, known as the Superior CCD Imaging Spectrograph or ACIS, by early subsequent week.
Chandra’s Excessive Decision Digicam (HRC) was powered down after being found in an anomalous state. The trigger is at the moment beneath investigation.
All different features of Chandra are performing nominally and work is underway to renew ACIS science observations by early subsequent week.
— Chandra CDO (@chandraCDO) February 16, 2022
The present glitch is not the primary time the X-ray observatory has confronted an issue. In August 2020, the digital camera stopped working due to a unique anomaly. Earlier than that, the mission suffered a glitch as a result of failure of the gyroscope. The telescope began functioning normally after per week on that event.
NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory was initially designed to serve solely 5 years however has been working for over 20 years.
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