Hubble Telescope’s Aiming System Fails

The Hubble Space Telescope has halted all astronomical observations because of a failed aiming system and will remain in hibernation until astronauts arrive with spare parts next month, NASA officials said at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. “It’s quite safe,” said program manager John Campbell. “We’re not doing science, so the power load has been reduced. But everything is quite OK.” The shuttle Discovery is supposed to lift off Dec. 6 with spacewalkers who will install pointing devices, or gyroscopes, and other crucial parts. The mission had been scheduled for October but was delayed because of shuttle wiring problems.