---
title: "The Wounded Hubble Could Be Back Soon, but It’s on Borrowed Time"
description: "NASA's engineers could soon bring the Hubble Space Telescope back to normal operations, according to an update — but ultimately, it's on borrowed time."
date: "2018-10-23"
modified: "2018-10-23"
authors:
  - name: "Jon Christian"
    job_title: "Executive Editor"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/jonc"
url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/wounded-hubble-borrowed-time"
categories:
  - "Off-World"
  - "Space"
tags:
  - "hubble"
  - "NASA"
  - "the digest"
  - "webb"
---

# The Wounded Hubble Could Be Back Soon, but It’s on Borrowed Time

![Default Futurism featured image](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Futurism-Filler-Image.jpg>)

## Gyrobroke

The iconic Hubble Space Telescope has been [offline since early this month](<https://www.space.com/42057-hubble-space-telescope-safe-mode-gyroscope-failure.html>) when one of the gyroscopes it uses to maintain its orientation in space failed.

NASA's engineers could soon bring the telescope back to normal science operations, according to an [update from the space agency](<https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2018/update-on-the-hubble-space-telescope-safe-mode>) — but ultimately, the aging Hubble is now on borrowed time.

## Backup Plan

The problem, according to NASA, was that Hubble's backup gyroscope was returning strange readings. The backup gyro hadn't been turned on for more than seven years, so NASA hypothesized that it had become blocked and instructed the telescope to make a series of rapid turns to free it up.

Since then — knock on wood — the readings have been more accurate, according to the space agency.

However heartening the repair may be, Hubble won't last forever. Experts estimate it'll be [out of commission by the early 2020s](<https://futurism.com/what-will-we-do-when-hubble-dies>), at which point astronomers' [will turn their attention to](<https://www.space.com/34593-james-webb-space-telescope-complete-2018-launch.html>) the James Webb Space Telescope — and as well as whatever new equipment they eventually launch to replace Hubble.

**READ MORE:** [Hubble Moving Closer to Normal Science Operations](<https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2018/update-on-the-hubble-space-telescope-safe-mode>) \[NASA\]

***More on the Hubble: [What Will We Do When Hubble Dies?](<https://futurism.com/what-will-we-do-when-hubble-dies>)***

## Author
I'm responsible for editing, assigning, and scouting at Futurism, as well as occasionally writing for the site. That work involves keeping an eye on a wide range of narratives and issues, but over the past few years I've become increasingly interested in how AI is shaping the future of media, the web, and information itself. My day-to-day often involves collaborating on reporting and commentary projects bylined by my colleagues, but I try to find time to do my own reporting as well; stories I've broken for Futurism have been cited by publications including the New York Times, the Washington Post, the New Yorker, Wired, Ars Technica, New York Magazine, the Columbia Journalism Review, Bloomberg, and more. I grew up in Southern Vermont and attended Vanderbilt University. Prior to Futurism, I contributed to outlets including the Boston Globe, Vice, Wired, Slate, the Atlantic, the Outline, Ars Technica and more, and did stints in farming and food service. I currently live in Brooklyn, New York, and in my free time I enjoy pinball, word games, cycling, running, and music production.

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