The 18 year old telescope is up and running again after it encountered some problems that kept Goddard scientists working around the clock in order to restore good functioning to the old telescope. Hubble had problems in transmitting information to Earth and recognizing commands.

After many attempts, scientists replaced the main system, Side A, with the backup one, Side B, but even this turned out to be problematic.

After many attempts to repair the telescope and much hard work, it seems that Hubble is working again just how it should be. The telescope has recently sent back to Earth a picture showing two interacting galaxies that appear to form the number “10.” The image is truly beautiful, showing exactly where the two galaxies connected, a blue ring being formed in that exact place.

Unfortunately, for the old telescope, it seems that any accomplishment must be joined by some sort of bad luck. Because of the delays in repairing the telescope and due to other problems the shuttle meant to go into outer space and replace some of its out-dated instruments.

Scientists have said that the shuttle was due for launch in February but because of some problems, they can only hope that the mission will be launched in May next year. NASA has announced that it needs the extra time in order to prepare another data handling unit to be sent and installed on the telescope by space shuttle Atlantis.

The announcement was made after NASA specialists completed an assessment on how long it would take to a have a second data handling unit for the telescope ready.

“The February date was an initial estimate, assuming minimal hardware preparations and test durations that are no longer viewed as realistic,” said NASA’s Astrophysics Division Director Jon Morse at NASA’s Headquarters in Washington. “We’ve communicated our assessment to the Space Shuttle Program so it can adjust near-term plans. We will work closely with the Shuttle Program to develop details for a new launch opportunity,” he added.

All in all, Hubble is now fixed and scientists say that the system is stable enough to resist until the repair mission will reach the telescope in May 2009.

The Hubble mission started back in 1990, when the shuttle Discovery launched and released the telescope into the orbit 304 nautical miles above the Earth. Since then, it has circled around Earth over 97,000 times, and has provided numerous answers in ways that would have been impossible from Earth observations.