Gazz Posted March 7, 2004 #1 Share Posted March 7, 2004 I can't believe the news I just read about the Hubble Space Telescope. Are they really just going to let it die and fall back to Earth? Are there any plans to replace it? what a bummer! what an awesome image, and there are thousands like this... what a shame. Gazz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nancy Posted March 7, 2004 #2 Share Posted March 7, 2004 Gazz..... Yep, last January, NASA announced it was withdrawing its plans to service Hubble in the year 2006. This is due to what NASA perceives "safety" issue as respects the Astronauts assigned to perform the Mission. The Columbia Accident Investigation Board (CAIB) has outlined requirements that apparently NASA feels they cannot comply with by 2006. In 2011, the James Webb Space Telescope is to be launched as a 'replacement' for Hubble. Odds are, if Hubble is not given its needed make-over before then, she will not survive. Congress has recently introduced a resolutin in the US House to have this desision reviewed. IF there is a way to extend Hubble's productivity without sending a Shuttle and Crew to service much needed improvements, Hubble may very well survive. However? Don't hold your breath. Remember, Columbia was the Shuttle that was to be utilized in future missions to Hubble. It was the largest and most well equiped for such a complex job. Here are a few LINKS that will give you some background. Nancy Hubble Service # 1 Hubble Service # 2 Hubble Service # 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swj20 Posted March 12, 2004 #3 Share Posted March 12, 2004 (edited) HST was a workhorse. It went far beyond the call of duty. If I recall, it was originally conceived as a means of studying Cephiad Variable stars. Those are so-called standard candles, which pulsate, and make good measurements possible on the speed at which galaxies travel. Those speeds relate to the expansion rate of the universe. That was something that became overshadowed by Hubble's other talents. Nonetheless, the fact remains. Certain equipment suffers from the onslaught and ravages of radiation, and micro high-speed impacts,such as dust that hits with a jolt. The stress limits the life time of cameras, spectroscopes, semi-conductors...They must be repaired, and that is very expensive. Decisions were made to reallocate funds to new areas, which also are valid fields of study- a new world of multi-telescope hook-ups, in space. The field is called interferometry. It would dwarf Hubble, in terms of precision and detail. They may not give the same type of output, but the science would be next-generation. Nice question. Edited March 12, 2004 by swj20 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poleshift Posted March 17, 2004 #4 Share Posted March 17, 2004 Suppose the earth had a solid ring. We reach there via a sort of elevator. We can build a small 'county' on it: hotel, hospital, restaurant, observatory, solar panel, missiles, laboratory, small train, satellites, Hubble... Everybody needs a visa to have a vacation on it. Missiles are used to hit way the falling harmful asteroids. How do you think about this idea? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stillcrazy Posted March 17, 2004 #5 Share Posted March 17, 2004 There is an indepenant commision to review the question of if it should be retired, but we wont know until after november. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nancy Posted March 18, 2004 #6 Share Posted March 18, 2004 How do you think about this idea? And the purpose of this is strictly for vacation? The funding for this adventure originates from...... ?? I don't mean to shoot down your idea, but ...... I vote no. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poleshift Posted March 18, 2004 #7 Share Posted March 18, 2004 >>And the purpose of this is strictly for vacation? No. Its main purpose is to protect the earth from the asteroids or comets, and for various research. Vacation is suggested for those space travel fans who can support this expance, like they do now. Above the earth, the solar panel will have high efficiency. In the future the energy company will like it. Or maybe scientists can find sort of optical fiber carrying light to dark. Then at night, streets will be lightened. At the Equator, it won't be so hot. With good design, this ring could become 'moon', air conditionner. Imagine this. It will save a lot of energy. That means saving the earth. >>The funding for this adventure originates from...... ?? We don't have the ability to do this now. 10 thousand years? It's enough for scientists to find the anti-gravity methods. A ring will be a piece of cake for them. >>I don't mean to shoot down your idea, but ...... I vote no. Anyhow thanks for your reading. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WorkMonkey Posted March 20, 2004 #8 Share Posted March 20, 2004 We don't have the ability to do this now. 10 thousand years? It's enough for scientists to find the anti-gravity methods. A ring will be a piece of cake for them. Heh, you really think we'll last another 10,000 years? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poleshift Posted March 20, 2004 #9 Share Posted March 20, 2004 How many years do you think we can have? A ring is too late for the Hubble. My friend is conceiving a method to let the space shuttle back safer. So the astronauts can go home safely. If his or other's idea could make orbitor re-entry safer, will they allow NASA to repair Hubble? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
forcer Posted March 26, 2004 #10 Share Posted March 26, 2004 My friend is conceiving a method to let the space shuttle back safer. So the astronauts can go home safely. If his or other's idea could make orbitor re-entry safer, will they allow NASA to repair Hubble? unfortuatly no, as the shuttles must be able to reach the iss in case something goes wrong, the HST is too far from the iss to be considered a safe trip Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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