“Hubble is an icon, giving us incredible insight into the cosmos over the past three decades,” NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said in a statement.
“I’m proud of the Hubble team, from current members to Hubble alumni who stepped in to lend their support and expertise,” Nelson said. “Thanks to their dedication and thoughtful work, Hubble will continue to build on its 31-year legacy, broadening our horizons with its view of the universe.”
The telescope was scheduled to resume collecting data on Saturday for the first time since the telescope’s payload computer experienced a problem on June 13.
The payload computer — a NASA Standard Spacecraft Computer-1, or NSSC-1, system — is used to control and coordinate Hubble’s scientific instruments. The computer’s programs also analyze and manipulate the data it collects.
NASA engineers discovered the problem was related to the Power Control Unit, which ensures a steady voltage supply to the payload computer, and switched to a backup PCU.
The PCU is housed with the payload computer in the Science Instrument Command and Data Handling unit.
The Hubble Space Telescope hasn’t always functioned flawlessly. A similar repair was performed in 2008, according to NASA, when another part of the SI C&DH unit failed. A servicing mission in 2009 then replaced the entire SI C&DH unit.
NASA said that Hubble will last for many more years and will work in tandem with other space observatories including the James Webb Space Telescope.
