The POT restored the scientific activities of the Hubble Space Telescopewhich had suspended scientific observations on November 23 due to a problem with one of its gyroscopes.

The telescope automatically entered safe mode when one of the three gyroscopes still in use (originally there were six) gave incorrect readings. Gyroscopes measure the rotational speed of the telescope and are part of the system that determines which direction the telescope is pointing, details Europe Press.

After analyzing the data, the team decided that scientific activities could resume under the control of the three operating gyroscopes. Based on the performance observed during testing, the team decided to run the gyroscopes at higher precision during scientific observations, NASA reports. Hubble’s instruments and the observatory itself remain stable and in good condition.

Hubble’s two main cameras, the Wide Field Camera 3 and the Advanced Camera for Surveys, will resume scientific observations on December 8. The team plans to restore operation of the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph and the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph later this month.

Hubble was launched in 1990 and has been observing the universe for more than 33 years.