NASA's Hubble Space Telescope halts observations due to gyroscope malfunction

Hubble Space Telescope, which orbits Earth, had a problem with one of its gyroscopes, which help it point in the right direction. This issue caused it to go into a hibernating state. NASA tried to fix it but couldn't, so now Hubble will work with only one gyroscope until mid-June. This means it won't be as quick or accurate in its observations. The telescope won't be as agile as before and will take longer to focus on specific targets. NASA decided not to send a mission to boost Hubble to a higher orbit to extend its life. A billionaire offered to help, but NASA thinks the risks are too high. Hubble was launched in 1990 and had a problem with its mirror at first, but astronauts fixed it during a spacewalk. Hubble's gyroscopes help it stay stable and point in the right direction by tracking its movements in space. Its successor, the Webb Space Telescope, launched in 2021. Hubble recently had to stop operations due to a gyroscope issue that has been ongoing for a year. Despite this, Hubble will continue to make discoveries with the help of other telescopes. Hubble was launched by the shuttle Discovery in 1990 and orbits Earth at a high speed, far above the dusty atmosphere. It can see clearer images than telescopes on Earth. Hubble's pointing system is very precise, like keeping a laser focused on a dime over 200 miles away for a long time. Any slight movement can make the images blurry. Hubble is a joint project between NASA and the European Space Agency, named after the astronomer Edwin P. Hubble.