Hubble releases stunning images of ‘seldom-observed’ colliding galaxies after a month-long sudden shutdown

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It’s official — NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope is back in action after a computer anomaly suddenly shut down the 32-year-old system for a month. And in celebration of its return, Hubble released two stunning new images on Monday that show the depths of the universe.

NASA announced that over the weekend, the telescope picked up a pair of “seldom observed” colliding galaxies, and an “unusual” large spiral galaxy. The captured spiral galaxy has three arms, while most galaxies of this type have an even number.

The photos were taken as part of a program at the University of Washington in Seattle.

On the left, Hubble captured ARP-MADORE2115-273, a rarely observed example of a pair of interacting galaxies in the Southern Hemisphere. At right, Hubble captured a large spiral galaxy with extended, extended spiral arms, ARP-MADORE0002-503. Science: NASA, ESA, STScI, Julianne Dalcanton (UW) Image processing: Alyssa Pagan (STScI)

“I am delighted to see that Hubble has reconsidered the universe, once again capturing the kind of images that have intrigued and inspired us for decades,” NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said in a statement. “This is a moment to celebrate the success of a team truly dedicated to the mission. Through their efforts, Hubble will continue its 32nd year of discovery, and we will continue to learn from the observatory’s transformative vision.”

The telescope has been on standstill since June 13, when his computer suddenly stopped working. NASA said the failed signal automatically puts the telescope’s instruments into safe mode, as it continues to orbit about 340 miles above Earth.

Fixing the telescope was a feat on deck, as NASA had to call in retired employees to contribute their knowledge about the device. Some of those who helped build the telescope in the 1980s stepped in to help solve the computer problem, while many others delve into documents up to 40 years old that can provide insight into the flaw.

According to NASA, the problem was with the telescope’s power controller, which helps provide a “steady voltage source” for computers.

Hubble back! 🎉

After the Hubble team successfully turned on the backup instruments aboard the telescope, the observatory returned to work over the weekend and took these snapshots of the galaxy.

Find out more here: https://t.co/2mWwSGyIKc pic.twitter.com/Y6tVQWrjig

– Hubble (@NASAHubble) July 19, 2021

It took the efforts of more than 50 people over the course of just over four weeks, but on July 15 at 11:30 p.m. ET, NASA was able to get Hubble back on again, switching operations to its backup hardware. I started collecting data only two days later.

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The complex shift to standby hardware requires “15 hours of driving the spacecraft from Earth,” Jim Gilletick, deputy director of the Hubble Project at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, said in a statement.

“The main computer had to be turned off, and a safe-mode backup computer temporarily took over the spacecraft. Several previously unrun chests were also run in space, and other machines needed to swap out their interfaces,” Gillitic said. . “There was no reason to believe that all of this wouldn’t work, but the team’s job was to be nervous and think about everything that could go wrong and how we could make up for it. The team planned meticulously and tested every little step of the floor to make sure they got it right.”

The last time Hubble had to rely on backup hardware was in 2008. Its computer module was replaced the following year, and since then, it has taken more than 600,000 observations, according to NASA. Since its launch into space in 1990, the telescope has taken more than 1.5 million images.

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