Topic: The Final End Of Hubble ?

[Ravok]

 
Hubble rescue 'will be scrapped'
Hubble Space Telescope, Nasa
Hubble needs regular maintenance
The future of the Hubble Space Telescope is in doubt after the White House refused money for a rescue plan, US media has reported.

US space agency Nasa will announce the decision in February, ending plans to send a human or a robot repairman, the Washington Post reported.

The service cost was expected to top $1bn, but has been cut from the federal budget request, sources told the paper.

For 15 years Hubble has captured some of the most profound images of space.

Previous services

It was designed to be visited periodically by astronauts who would perform repairs and install new equipment.

Astronauts have made servicing visits to the telescope several times, with a final servicing mission - now cancelled - due for 2006.

Despite the funding cut, the telescope is not yet being shut down - just allowed to operate normally until wear and tear take their toll.

Its original mission was supposed to last 15 years, and was extended to 20 years, with a projected end date of 2010.



 If this is true, What a waste!!! There are millons of dollars of upgrades sitting on the ground, That will never be used.

[S'Raek]

I have heard the same story.  It will be too bad the day that thing stops working. 

[J. Carney]

I wonder if, since private individuals are trying to get practical space travel going, we could make that one of the first PRIVATE manned space ventures?

How long till Hubble starts to fall? Could we get something like that worked out by then? I mean, I'm sure that alot of groups would contribute, and maybe a few businesses that wanted to get in on space travel.

[Sirgod]

Waaaayyyy OT. But this reminds me alot of that old TV series Salvage One with Andy Griffith.

Stephen

[Ravok]

I wonder if, since private individuals are trying to get practical space travel going, we could make that one of the first PRIVATE manned space ventures?

How long till Hubble starts to fall? Could we get something like that worked out by then? I mean, I'm sure that alot of groups would contribute, and maybe a few businesses that wanted to get in on space travel.

 Thats a really good idea J . You should see if you can get any info on it.

[J. Carney]

Thats a really good idea J . You should see if you can get any info on it.

OK... I guess that the logical places to start would be Rutan's people and SpaceDev (made the engines for SS1).

My cousin has some SpaceDev stock... maybe he has a contact addy?

[Ravok]

 Im not buttering you up. It sounds like a really good idea to me.

 It beats just letting it rot. And all of the upgrades go to waste.

[J. Carney]

Im not buttering you up. It sounds like a really good idea to me.

 It beats just letting it rot. And all of the upgrades go to waste.

Anything beats letting it burn up on re-entry. I mean, even if they just send up a ROV that would boost it to a higher orbit and buy more time, it would be something.

[TheJudge]

How typical of the administration's approach to things:  Science can't get funded.  Now, sending a man to mars might get funded because that's bright and showy, but real science with something like Hubble gets cast on to the garbage heap of history like yesterday's newspaper. 

Oh, and if anyone wants to take me to task for criticizing the administration on this, the decision was made directly by the White House, which means the man at the top, not just his NASA administrator. 

[Sirgod]

How typical of the administration's approach to things:  Science can't get funded.  Now, sending a man to mars might get funded because that's bright and showy, but real science with something like Hubble gets cast on to the garbage heap of history like yesterday's newspaper. 

Oh, and if anyone wants to take me to task for criticizing the administration on this, the decision was made directly by the White House, which means the man at the top, not just his NASA administrator. 

Wow, I  always thought Congress Approved NASA's Budget.

Stephen

[Ravok]

I agree with the Judge . I think its a poor choice ( This is 10 forward,  I cant use the wording i would really like .)

 This is NOT even what the people want. If Mr Bush wants to balance the budget. He should go after Pork and special interest Projects.

 He would save way more money, and really start doing what he promised..

[Sirgod]

Oh. Don't get me wrong, I also want to see Science and Hubble esp. have the Budget It needs. But It's ultimaly up to Congress. Not President Bush. All he can do is Recomend a Budget.

Stephen

[J. Carney]

Oh, and if anyone wants to take me to task for criticizing the administration on this, the decision was made directly by the White House, which means the man at the top, not just his NASA administrator. 

No budget decision is made by decree form the White House, Judge.

You can blame a Congress full of Republicans AND Demicrats who are not going to pass a budget that trims their pork; Bush just suggested something that would keep Congress on his side so he can get something done.

It's called politics, and it's ugly.

[S'Raek]

OK, I know this may sound like the opposite of what I said earlier, but lets be honest here.  The exploration of space isn't going to end if/when Hubble burns up on re-entry.  While I wish it could be saved it has been up there for 15 years.  Perhaps it's time we spend our space $$$ on something else.  While I'm sure there is more to be learned from Hubble there is also more to be learned from other projects.  And while it would be nice to know what is out there in the deep dark space, spending money on actually getting us up permanently into space on the Space Station, Moon and then Mars (is what I remember the President set out in his speech) is probably better for us in the long term.  Lots of space (no pun intended) and resources up ther that can help us down here.