From: Marc Postman (postman@stsci.edu)
Date: Mon Jan 29 2007 - 11:41:45 PST
As you can infer from the 2nd paragraph, this is a serious ACS-
related failure - and one on the remaining redundant electronics
side. The "reduced mode" referred to means we may be able to restore
function to the solar blind channel. If any part of our survey can be
done with WFPC2 or NICMOS, now is the time to look into that.
-Marc
Begin forwarded message:
> From: NASA News <hqnews@mediaservices.nasa.gov>
> Date: January 29, 2007 1:47:15 PM EST
> To: NASA News <hqnews@mediaservices.nasa.gov>
> Subject: Engineers Investigate Issue on One of Hubble's Science
> Instruments
>
> Jan. 29, 2007
>
> Dwayne Brown/Grey Hautaluoma
> Headquarters, Washington
> 202-358-1726/0668
>
> Susan Hendrix/Ed Campion
> Goddard Space Center, Greenbelt, Md.
> 301-286-7745/0697
>
> RELEASE: 07-15
>
> ENGINEERS INVESTIGATE ISSUE ON ONE OF HUBBLE'S SCIENCE INSTRUMENTS
>
> GREENBELT, Md. - NASA engineers are examining a problem related to the
> Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) aboard the agency's Hubble Space
> Telescope.
>
> On Jan. 27, the observatory entered a protective "safemode" condition
> at 7:34 a.m. EST. An initial investigation indicates the camera has
> stopped functioning, and the input power feed to its Side B
> electronics package has failed.
>
> The instrument had been operating on its redundant electronics since
> June 30, 2006, when NASA engineers transitioned from the primary,
> Side A, electronics package due to a malfunction. Engineers currently
> are assessing the option to return ACS science operations to the
> primary electronics so that observations could resume in a reduced
> mode.
>
> Hubble was recovered from safemode around 2 a.m. EST on Jan. 28, and
> science observations will resume this week using the remaining Hubble
> instruments: Wide Field Planetary Camera 2, Near Infrared Camera
> Multi-Object Spectrograph, and the Fine Guidance Sensors.
>
> In November 2006, the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore
> selected a set of backup non-ACS science programs for use in case of
> a future ACS anomaly. These programs now will be inserted into the
> science schedule to maintain a highly productive observing program.
>
> An Anomaly Review Board was appointed on Jan. 29, to investigate the
> ACS anomaly. The board will perform a thorough investigation and
> assessment to decide the best course of action. The board is
> scheduled to present their findings and recommendations by March 2.
>
> "It is too early to know what influences the ACS anomaly may have on
> Hubble Space Telescope Servicing Mission-4 planning" said Preston
> Burch, associate director/program manager for the Hubble Space
> Telescope. "It is important that the review board conduct a thorough
> investigation that will allow us to determine if there are any
> changes needed in the new instruments that will be installed on the
> upcoming servicing mission so that we can be sure of maximizing the
> telescope's scientific output. We are continuing to make excellent
> progress in our preparations for the servicing mission, which is
> presently targeted to fly in September 2008."
>
> The Advanced Camera for Surveys is a third-generation instrument
> consisting of three electronic cameras, filters and dispersers that
> detect light from the ultraviolet to the near infrared. The
> instrument was installed during a March 2002, servicing mission. It
> was developed jointly by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center,
> Greenbelt, Md., Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore; Ball Aerospace,
> Boulder, Colo.; and the Space Telescope Science Institute.
>
> The Hubble Space Telescope is a project of international cooperation
> between NASA and the European Space Agency. The Space Telescope
> Science Institute conducts Hubble science operations. The Institute
> is operated for NASA by the Association of Universities for Research
> in Astronomy, Inc., Washington.
>
> For information about the Hubble Space Telescope, visit:
>
> http://www.nasa.gov/hubble
>
>
> -end-
>
>
>
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-----------------------------------------------------------------
Marc Postman Email: postman@stsci.edu
STScI - CMO Phone: +1-410-338-4340
3700 San Martin Drive Fax: +1-410-338-4796
Baltimore, MD 21218 U.S.A. http://www.stsci.edu/~postman
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