Chandra X-Ray Observatory Entered Protective Safe Mode – Investigation Underway

MessageToEagle.com – At approximately 9:55 a.m. EDT on Oct. 10, 2018, NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory entered a protective safe mode, the US space agency informed.

While in the safe mode, the observatory is put into a safe configuration, critical hardware is swapped to back-up units, the spacecraft points so that the solar panels get maximum sunlight, and the mirrors point away from the Sun.

“Analysis of available data indicates the transition to safe mode was normal behavior for such an event. All systems functioned as expected and the scientific instruments are safe…”  NASA informed.

The cause of the safe mode transition (possibly involving a gyroscope) is under investigation, and we will post more information when it becomes available.

Chandra is 19 years old. The observatory was launched in 1999, which is well beyond the original design lifetime of 5 years. In 2001, NASA additionally extended its lifetime to 10 years.

The Chandra telescope is named after Nobel Prize-winning Indian-American astrophysicist Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar and worked for NASA by the Chandra X-ray Center at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory. Chandra focuses on the powerful X-ray emissions from violent cosmic phenomena such as black holes and supernovae.

Chandra is expected to continue carrying out forefront science for many years to come.

Just recently, also the Hubble was placed in “safe mode” after one of the three gyroscopes used to aim and steady the telescope failed. It took place on October 5, 2018, shortly after 6:00 p.m. EDT.

Gyroscopes help spacecraft maintain proper orientation.

For now, NASA scientists are currently performing analyses and tests to determine what options are available to get the Hubble  operational again.’

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