0
SkydiveMonkey

The end of the Hubble Space Telescope

Recommended Posts

Guest
Space is a harsh environment and it's really hard on equipment.

All things wear out and eventually fail.

Yes, it would be nice to keep it in operation, but it's hugely expensive and has relied upon the space shuttle for servicing...we know what that means.

So, the short version is all good things must come to an end. It will eventually die and de-orbit, like almost everything else that's been shot around the Earth.

There will be a gap in space astronomy until the follow-on spaceborne scope is in place, but I have a feeling that it will be worth waiting for....:)

mh
"The mouse does not know life until it is in the mouth of the cat."

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Replacing Hubble would be the way to go, it really is getting the shit pounded out of it in orbit and a newer better replacement would be just the thing.

Only problem is, I think the Bush Space Inititiative is an election year ploy. Congress will never fund it, which sucks, but they won't. This is how it will play out by the end of the decade: no Shuttle, no Hubble, no Int'l Space Station, no Moon program, no Mars, no nothin' in the way of live human space flight.

I wish I could be more optimistic, because I've loved the Space Program ever since I was a kid. I still even have my first grade essay on John Glenn, written in the HUGE lines, with the dotted lines in the middle. I wish all the good stuff would happen, but it won't. All the money's gone to Baghdad.

Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
I'm no logistics expert, but I figure that the shuttle would be used to transport and assemble the new parts of the James Webb Telescope when the time comes. I wonder if it has been considered to build the new telescope right alongside the Hubble, even attached to the Hubble during construction. The shuttle may launch with James Webb parts and return with Hubble parts, building and dismantling the respective telescopes in a dual operation that wouldn't even require a secondary docking procedure.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
I agree with you on the Bush thing.. though perhaps my oppinion isn't as important because I'm not American. But hey.. from what the experts on the TV said, if he WAS to go ahead with that plan and actually fulfil it, it could end up costing a trillion (yes, that's a thousand billion, and not a typo..?!) dollars. I had to double check that, but that's what they said. Now space exploration certainly holds a future to many many things. But that sorta money would pay off 1/2 of all third-world debt. That sort of money could solve so many problems - on America's soil and not.

I'd have to ask; money well spent?
But like you say, a government who'd actually commit to that kind of spending would be signing a death sentence.. so I think you're right. Pre-electorate goodies to secure votes perhaps :|

'buttplugs? where?' - geno

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
yeah, the whole NASA program should be covered on T.V. constantly makin the whole endevour more worthwhil instead of just blowin them up sans challenger..... I dig astrounauts and not the Lance Bass type.... takes some stones to go for that program and is well worth a 1/2 an hour on Discovery and CNN everyday..... better than the drivel... and if it made me feel a 1/16th of the way catching a mint wave does it'd be money well spent and would change people's tude's towards the better fo sho.

Accelerate hard to get them looking, then slam on the fronts and rollright beside the car, hanging the back wheel at eye level for a few seconds. Guaranteed reaction- Dave Sonsky

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Fair point. :P:)
Edit to add: Very true, but wages still only make up for a proportion of the costs. I couldn't quite them to you because I don't know, but I do know it costs a hell of a lot in equipment, fuel, and hardware - including rockets etc. The cost of those bits don't go back into the 'community' as such, with the exception of the scientific advancements and knowledge gained from the missions.

'buttplugs? where?' - geno

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

0