One of the main cameras on the ageing Hubble Space Telescope, which is known for its unparalleled views of distant galaxies and infant stars, has stopped working.
The Space Telescope Science Institute says one of three cameras in the Hubble's Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) shut down today after indicatingthat power supply voltages had exceeded their limits.
The exact cause of the problem and a potential fix are under investigation.
The institute says the other two cameras are still operating and engineers are hopeful the problem could be fixed from the ground.
"At this point, the ACS is in a safe configuration and further analysis is ongoing," the statement said.
The cameras were installed on Hubble by astronauts on the space shuttle Columbia during a 2002 repair and service mission, one of four repair missions to the telescope named for astronomer Edwin Hubble.
Other shuttle missions to correct problems and replace ageing equipment occurred in 1993, 1997 and 1999.
The telescope, which was launched in 1990, orbits above the distorting effects of Earth's atmosphere, enabling clearer views of astronomical objects.
Hubble needs new batteries for power and new gyroscopes to keep it steady and let it point at specific celestial features.
Without maintenance, its capabilities could fade by 2007 or 2008.
Nasa has said another repair mission could keep Hubble productive through 2010.
Eventually, the telescope will be brought down to Earth in what Nasa calls a controlled de-orbit.
