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Hubble ACS in Safe Mode

Hubble ACS in Safe Mode

28 June 2006

NASA engineers continue to examine the issues surrounding a problem related to the Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) aboard the Hubble Space Telescope.

Engineers received indications on Monday, 19 June, that the power supply voltages were out of acceptable limits, causing the camera to stop functioning. The camera has been taken off line so engineers can study the problem and determine the appropriate remedy. Hubble observations with the other science instruments on board are continuing as planned.

The ACS on display in a clean-room before launch

On 19 June 2006, at 17:15 UT, the ACS issued status buffer messages indicating that the +15V and +5V power supply voltages in the CCD Electronics Box (CEB) were above their high limits, causing the ACS to suspend. This event occurred in a period with no ACS commanding and outside the South Atlantic Anomaly (SAA). A dump of the relevant data showed that a total of 36 CEB items exceeded limits at the time of the event.

At this point, the ACS is in a safe configuration, and further analysis is ongoing. Preliminary reviews of the telemetry and technical details about possibly affected components of ACS have been carried out. However, the root cause for the ACS suspend is still unknown. Further analysis and testing revolves around low-voltage power supplies as well as analog to digital converters. Analysis of ACS images taken before the suspend event shows no anomalies of any kind.

Tests of the Side 1 electronics, which have been used since the installation of ACS, are currently in progress. A decision regarding a potential switch to Side 2 electronics will be taken in the near future.

Last Update: 1 September 2019
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5-Feb-2025 14:06 UT

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