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Hubble's main camera out of service

Electrical short knocks out key scientific instrument.

The Hubble Space Telescope's primary camera has blown a fuse, and its main functions seem to be gone for good.

Read the story here.

Posted by Nicola Jones on January 30, 2007
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It will be a crying shame if service of ACS is not added to the docket for the servicing mission next spring. While WFC3 will replace some of ACS's functionality, it cannot replace all of it. In particular, unless ACS is serviced, HST will lose permanently the following capabilities: optical polarimetry, as well as emission line imaging for redshifted objects. HST's discoveries with these capabilities have been critical to several fields of astrophysics -- it will be a shame to lose them permanently because of what one could only describe as short-sighted decision making.

Posted by: Eric Perlman | February 5, 2007 06:14 PM

Why are there "fuses" in electronics whose physical location makes them virtually unserviceable?

Posted by: Bruce Hubbard | February 5, 2007 09:03 PM

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