Hubble’s Main Camera Moves to Backup Power

NASA switched to backup power for the main camera on the Hubble Space Telescope on Friday and expected to know soon whether the change had revived the disabled device.

The switch, lasting several hours, will probably clear up the problem, but it is possible the camera still won’t work, said Ed Ruitberg, deputy associate director of the Astrophysics Division at the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md.

Ground controllers received indications June 19 that voltage readings on the power supply for the Advanced Camera for Surveys were outside of their acceptable range, causing the instrument to shut down. Other instruments on the orbiting telescope have continued to operate.