NASA is powering HST control electronics up again, right about now
cf nasaspaceflight.com and spaceflight.com
short version: the telescope is communicating, diagnostics look good and the switch over was today.
Science operation expected to resume by friday.
Now, if I counted correctly, even if NICMOS comes back on after its warmup (ie if the ice suspected of blocking the detectors has sublimated), the science pipeline is still going to run out - just not enough WFPC2, NIC and FGS targets queued up if the SM-4 doesn't go until Feb '09 or later.
STSCI is going to have to either revisit Cycle 16 proposals, and/or have an interim call for proposals for WFPC2/NIC/FGS science only.
If the go for an iCfP - it will have to be soon and fast.
Rumor is a quick turn around CfP (10 days) for large orbit (>50) proposals with little or no funding.
The side B turn on was successful, according to my inbox, and science ops are on for tonight. My inbox does not have any good rumors about filling out the schedule, though. And, hi Caryl!
50 orbits with WFPC2 is pretty easy, but little or no funding has some big downsides.