Communications of the ACM
NASA Struggles to Restore Aging Payload Computer on Hubble Space Telescope
The U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) continues to work to resolve a problem with the Hubble Space Telescope payload computer that has stopped it from operating.
Credit: NASA/Smithsonian Institution/Lockheed Corporation
NASA continues to work to resolve a problem with the Hubble Space Telescope payload computer that halted on June 13. After performing tests on several of the computer's memory modules, the results indicate that a different piece of computer hardware may have caused the problem, with the memory errors being only a symptom. The operations team is investigating whether the Standard Interface (STINT) hardware, which bridges communications between the computer's Central Processing Module (CPM) and other components, or the CPM itself is responsible for the issue. The team is currently designing tests that will be run in the next few days to attempt to further isolate the problem and identify a potential solution.
This step is important for determining what hardware is still working properly for future reference. If the problem with the payload computer can't be fixed, the operations team will be prepared to switch to the STINT and CPM hardware onboard the backup payload computer. The team has conducted ground tests and operations procedure reviews to verify all the commanding required to perform that switch on the spacecraft.
From SciTechDaily
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