---
title: "Finally Some Good News: Hubble Space Telescope Back at Full Health"
description: "There's finally some good news: NASA's legendary Hubble Space Telescope is back to full science operations, according to a recent update."
date: "2021-12-07"
modified: "2021-12-07"
authors:
  - name: "Victor Tangermann"
    job_title: "Senior Editor"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor"
url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/hubble-back-full-health"
categories:
  - "Off-World"
  - "Space"
tags:
  - "hubble"
  - "hubble space telescope"
  - "NASA"
  - "the digest"
---

# Finally Some Good News: Hubble Space Telescope Back at Full Health

![There's finally some good news: NASA's legendary Hubble Space Telescope is back to full science operations, according to a recent update.](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/finally-some-good-news-hubble-space-telescope-back-at-full-health.jpg>)
*\<em\>Image: NASA\</em\>*

## Back in Action

Good news! NASA's legendary Hubble Space Telescope is back to full science operations, according to a [new update](<https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2021/nasa-returns-hubble-to-full-science-operations>).

All four of its scientific instruments are live again after a software glitch forced the telescope into safe mode early last month — a testament to weeks of hard work to ensuring the continued existence of one of the most important space observatories in history.

The timing also couldn't be better, as NASA is getting ready to launch its long-awaited James Webb Space Telescope in [a matter of weeks](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/james-webb-telescope-fuel>), allowing the two observatories to "work together well into this decade, expanding our knowledge of the cosmos even further," as NASA wrote in today's update.

## Out of Sync

In October, NASA scientists [encountered synchronization issues](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/nasa-admits-huble-space-telescope-busted-again>) related to the commands its instruments received from Earth. Engineers attempted several fixes in early November, but the issues remained.

From mid to late November, scientists managed to bring scientific instruments back online one by one by pushing several changes to the software.

"The team will continue work on developing and testing changes to instrument software that would allow them to conduct science operations even if they encounter several lost synchronization messages in the future," today's update reads.

The Hubble Space Telescope is unquestionably [starting to show its age](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/hubble-backup-computer-broke>), having been in operation for 31 long years. But it's not dead yet — despite the fact that the last time it was serviced in person by astronauts was [over 12 years ago](<https://www.nasa.gov/content/goddard/hubble-servicing-mission-4>).

**READ MORE:** [NASA Returns Hubble to Full Science Operations](<https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2021/nasa-returns-hubble-to-full-science-operations>) \[NASA\]

**More on the Hubble:** *[NASA Admits That the Hubble Space Telescope Is Busted Again](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/nasa-admits-huble-space-telescope-busted-again>)*

## Author
I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida.

### Author social links  
[Bluesky](<https://bsky.app/profile/vtanger.bsky.social>)