The space-based Chandra X-ray observatory, which has been operating since 1999 and has contributed to many important discoveries, faced power supply problems on February 9th. This forced the specialists who controlled the mission to turn off the main instrument of the apparatus - the high-resolution camera - and temporarily suspend scientific observations. It is reported by Twitter mission.

“Mission Chandra has suspended scientific observations and placed four scientific instruments in safe mode while they analyze the situation and prepare for recovery operations,” the Chandra mission wrote on Feb. 16. “The spacecraft itself is operating normally.” It also states that the space telescope's high-resolution camera "was turned off after it was found to be in an anomalous state" and that "the cause is currently being investigated."

The space telescope is expected to resume normal operations with another instrument called the Advanced CCD Imaging Spectrograph or ACIS by early next week.

Initially, the work of Chandra was designed for only five years, but the space X-ray telescope has worked for more than two decades, observing the Universe in the X-ray range. It was launched into orbit on July 23, 1999 aboard the Columbia spacecraft. The current Chandra crash is not the first high-definition camera failure. In August 2020, the camera was turned off due to another anomaly that suspended his scientific activities for several months, but the specialists eventually switched the camera to a backup module in December 2020. In addition, in 2018, the space observatory had a problem with the gyroscope, which was also eliminated. The Chandra Extended Mission is funded until 2025 and may be extended until 2030.

bbabo.Net