Hubble May Get A Reprieve

Thanks to a lot of grassroots support, in addition to the outcry of astronomers, members of congress are asking NASA to reconsider their decision. Here is a link if anyone wants more info.

http://skyandtelescope.com/news/article_1165_1.asp

http://skyandtelescope.com/news/article_1175_1.asp

Hey, I'll volunteer to go service the thing for them if they haven't got the guts to do it! I've always wanted to fly the Space Shuttle. Troy, want to be my co-pilot? Any volunteers for mission specialists?

I'm in, where do I sit? :)

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Originally Posted by I_Fly

I'm in, where do I sit? :)

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We'll be the one's up front, with the window seats!

You know, it only takes two people to fly that thing. So technically, we could fly it up there, suit up, service the Hubble, and bring the shuttle back to Canaveral. Some mission specialists would help lighten the workload, but I'm willing to go do it with or without mission specialists!

OK, now we just need to forward this to NASA, along with waivers of liability, and have them book our flight! :-)

You want the PIC seat for the ride up or down?

All they need to do is make sure the repair manual is written for the average fighter pilot and we should be able to make do and "fix" something. Who cares, as long as we get the ride!

Let's hope they don't wait too long, or we'll be like those old codgers in Space Cowboys. :)

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Originally Posted by I_Fly

You want the PIC seat for the ride up or down?

All they need to do is make sure the repair manual is written for the average fighter pilot and we should be able to make do and "fix" something. Who cares, as long as we get the ride!

Let's hope they don't wait too long, or we'll be like those old codgers in Space Cowboys. :)

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On the ride down.

The primary servicing is replacing worn out gyro's. Surely we could handle that. Maybe replace some of the batteries - no big deal there. And fuel it up. A monkey should be able to do that.

So all we've got to do is call NASA and tell them to schedule our mission! Yee Haa!

Unfortunately, these are old links. A few days ago, NASA declared their "final" answer: No more Hubble. They are now citing "danger to the astronauts" as the reason.

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Originally Posted by Michael Fanelli

Unfortunately, these are old links. A few days ago, NASA declared their "final" answer: No more Hubble. They are now citing "danger to the astronauts" as the reason.

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I'm still willing to go up there and service though!

It's going to be a great loss to astronomy when the Hubble dies. The Webb Space Telescope isn't due to go up until 2010 or so, and it does not have any visible light instruments on it!

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Originally Posted by Speed

I'm still willing to go up there and service though!

It's going to be a great loss to astronomy when the Hubble dies. The Webb Space Telescope isn't due to go up until 2010 or so, and it does not have any visible light instruments on it!

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Yes, a great loss. But visible light is only a very small piece of the puzzle. Take a look at the images from the x-ray, UV, and the new infrared space telescopes. Just as valuable and, in some ways, more so.

so I can capture you two putting her in a tail spin reentering the atmosphere and turning her into another Halley's Comet ;)
(I get a special ejector seat)

Rick

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Originally Posted by Michael Fanelli

Yes, a great loss. But visible light is only a very small piece of the puzzle. Take a look at the images from the x-ray, UV, and the new infrared space telescopes. Just as valuable and, in some ways, more so.

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Very true. While the visible stuff makes us happy, there are other parts of the EM spectrum that are much more interesting scientifically. That said, there is nothing in the CAIB report that specifically adresses Hubble and the so called risk. And, as it happens, there are documents circulating and now being looked at by NASA re: the actual risk of Hubble missions.

The bad part of all of this would be not having anything up between the demise of Hubble and the arrival of Webb. A lot of good science can be done, yet, by Hubble. The problem is probably less risk and more political. Even w/ recent announcements re: future missions (mars, moon), NASA will only receive the minimum amount of funding necessary to do the missions. Maybe if NASA was funded like the military....or maybe if NASA had the 80 billion that was earmarked for Iraq....

NASA factoid: for every $1 spent at NASA, $300 are returned in new technology, invention, and products. Arguably, NASA is one of the most profitable arms of the gov't.

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Originally Posted by walterick

so I can capture you two putting her in a tail spin reentering the atmosphere and turning her into another Halley's Comet ;)
(I get a special ejector seat)

Rick

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Are done in a T-37. Lots of fun too! BTDT.

No way I'll let a shuttle go into a spin. Spacecraft aren't designed for the stesses that jets are! If the current NASA plan goes into effect, the Hubble will be fitted with a booster rocket that will drop it into the pacific ocean. So for a brief time, it will look like a VERY bright comet. :-O