NASA tries again to get ailing Hubble working

[October 27, 2008]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- NASA is trying again to wake up the sleeping science computer on the Hubble Space Telescope. Hubble hasn't been able to take pictures since late September because its computer couldn't collect and transmit photos. NASA tried to wake up a backup system last week, but ran into new problems that shut the computer down again.

Engineers switched on Hubble's science computer Thursday in a process that will take more than a day. They hope minor fixes should prevent the glitches from returning.

If it works, Hubble should begin taking pictures Saturday and sending them down to Earth.

Because of the breakdown, NASA delayed its final Hubble repair mission by shuttle astronauts that was set for this month. Now the mission won't happen until next year.

[Associated Press]

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