NASA Hubble Space Telescope's current safe mode issue is expected to last longer. With that, the international space agency announced that it might be forced to conduct riskier and more complex fixes to solve the system issue.  

NASA Hubble Space Telescope Needs Riskier Fix As Safe Mode Issue Could Remain Longer Than Expected
(Photo : Photo courtesy NASA/Getty Images)
402108 04: Astronaut John M. Grunsfeld (C) works to replace the starboard solar array on the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) March 4, 2002 during an extravehicular activity (EVA) in space. Grunsfeld and the rest of his Space Shuttle Columbia crew are in space to try and upgrade some components of the Hubble Space Telescope.

"After analyzing the data, the Hubble operations team is investigating whether a degrading memory module led to the computer halt," said the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. 

This issue shows that the giant space telescope is getting old. For the past three decades, NASA Hubble Space Telescope was able to send images and data gathered outside the Earth successfully. 

This information helped many space experts from different countries to understand the visible universe. However, the technology halted its space operations since it is still stuck in safe mode. 

It all started back in March after the space agency found some internal problems. On June 22, NASA announced that the memory issue could be a sign of a computer hardware issue. 

NASA Hubble Space Telescope Needs Riskier Fix? 

According to CNET's latest report, NASA conducted some additional tests to activate the space telescope's backup payload computer. The last activation of this system was way back in 2009.  

NASA Hubble Space Telescope Needs Riskier Fix As Safe Mode Issue Could Remain Longer Than Expected

(Photo : Photo NASA via Getty Images)
IN SPACE - MAY 13: In this handout from NASA, the Hubble Space Telescope is grappled to Space Shuttle Atlantis STS-125 by the shuttle's Canadian-built remote manipulator system May 13, 2009 in Space. The space shuttle Atlantis' mission is to overhaul the Hubble Space Telescope in order to extend its working life.

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"The tests showed that numerous combinations of these hardware pieces from both the primary and backup payload computer all experienced the same error -- commands to write into or read from memory were not successful," explained the international space agency. 

On the other hand, the company confirmed that it will conduct a riskier and more complex fix if one of the Hubble Space Telescope's systems is the cause of the current issue. 

NASA said that their upcoming activity will include more than just switching to memory modules and backup payloads computer hardware. The upcoming riskier fix is expected to begin in the second week of July. 

But, this is still subject to change, depending on the new findings of NASA.  

Why is NASA Having Some Trouble?

ZDNet reported that NASA is having some trouble fixing the current system issue since the Hubble Space Telescope is bus-sized. This massive size prevents the space agency's researchers from quickly finding the primary source of the internal problem.

On the other hand, it is also orbiting at around 547 kilometers outside Earth's atmosphere. Hubble Space Telescope is currently traveling at around 27,000 kilometers per hour. 

For more news updates about NASA and its upcoming fix for the Hubble Space Telescope, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.  

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Written by: Griffin Davis

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