Hubble deserves being brought back to Earth

[methshin]

Ya know, Hubble has been taking great shots of our galaxy and beyond for quite a long time and I think it is disgusting that NASA and the US govt. isn't going to bring it back to earth and throw it in the Smithsonian or something. I mean, there has got to be a lot of people out there that would love to see this thing in real life.

I know that it isn't the most cost effective mission in the world, but this thing has helped us put many theories together and give us a great view of what is going on around us.

Thoughts?

 

[skunkape]

I'm not sure of the logistics involved, but it does kinda seem like abandoning a loyal friend.
<input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden">

 

[Chuckleberryfinn]

It would cost entirely too much money to do that.

 

[pixelsmith]

abandoning space junk should be illegal.

 

[methshin]

It would cost entirely too much money to do that.

Could they not ammend one of the future missions to have the Canadarm reach out and grab it?

Besides, I'm sure they could recoup some cash through admission and lending it out to different museums. Kinda like a Hubble world tour.

 

[Chuckleberryfinn]

Could they not ammend one of the future missions to have the Canadarm reach out and grab it?

Besides, I'm sure they could recoup some cash through admission and lending it out to different museums. Kinda like a Hubble world tour.

It would be neat to have that thing, I agree. Perhaps they could amend a future mission. Heck, maybe they could even grab it from the ISS.

Since we're on the topic of telescopes, I have always thought that it would be amazing to have a lunar observatory. Think about how badass it would be to have astronomers using a big telescope on the moon. When the side of the moon with the telescope is dark, they could get some amazing pictures.

 

[AnnetteMarie]

ummm, the same side of the moon is always away from Earth, and in the dark. great thought, but no rotation to make it work. but they could do an observatory and place it on that side, which would do, as you said, awesome shots.

 

[Chuckleberryfinn]

ummm, the same side of the moon is always away from Earth, and in the dark. great thought, but no rotation to make it work. but they could do an observatory and place it on that side, which would do, as you said, awesome shots.

I know that the same side of the moon always faces away from the Earth, but you are wrong in stating that the same side is always in the dark. There is no "dark side of the moon."

Since you might not take my word alone on the matter, here is Phil Plait's page on bad astronomy:

Phil Plait's Bad Astronomy: Misconceptions

 

[Jose Collado]

Not too keen on the idea. In this day and age, you could put the money to better use.

 

[AnnetteMarie]

I know that the same side of the moon always faces away from the Earth, but you are wrong in stating that the same side is always in the dark. There is no "dark side of the moon."

Since you might not take my word alone on the matter, here is Phil Plait's page on bad astronomy:

Phil Plait's Bad Astronomy: Misconceptions

yep, and if I had actually thought about it before shooting my fingers off, I would have checked my facts, first, too.

I knew darn well there was a side we never saw, so assumed it didn't ever face the Sun. fool me, smart you! thanks for the lesson.

 

[methshin]

Not too keen on the idea. In this day and age, you could put the money to better use.

Like buying congress new private jets?

Like entering a war with no foreseeable end?

I think that it would be a great peice of history to have for our children and our grandchildren to see. Heaven forbid your govt. spend your money on education.

 

[pixelsmith]

Like buying congress new private jets?

Like entering a war with no foreseeable end?

I think that it would be a great peice of history to have for our children and our grandchildren to see. Heaven forbid your govt. spend your money on education.

jose will now ask you to prove everything.

 

[methshin]

jose will now ask you to prove everything.

I will prove NOTHING!

 

[Roro]

I resonate with your sentiment but don't think it's practical for the reasons others have been stating.

I would add that the only way to do it would be with the shuttle, which will be retired long before the Hubble is ready to retire, thanks to it's recent servicing and upgrades.

I think everything sent into orbit should have the ability to deorbit (is that a word?) itself. It's crazy to just keep putting more stuff up there considering the consequences of collisions.

 

[methshin]

I resonate with your sentiment but don't think it's practical for the reasons others have been stating.

I would add that the only way to do it would be with the shuttle, which will be retired long before the Hubble is ready to retire, thanks to it's recent servicing and upgrades.

I think everything sent into orbit should have the ability to deorbit (is that a word?) itself. It's crazy to just keep putting more stuff up there considering the consequences of collisions.

I also wonder if it is possible for a shuttle to grab it and pull it further out of orbit. I believe the year it will fall is 2014 and the new shuttles will be in operation for 2012, but don't quote me on that, I don't have the time to double check right now.

 

[Roro]

I also wonder if it is possible for a shuttle to grab it and pull it further out of orbit. I believe the year it will fall is 2014 and the new shuttles will be in operation for 2012, but don't quote me on that, I don't have the time to double check right now.

Unfortunately, at least for the purposes of this discussion, the next generation of maned space vehicle isn't going to be a shuttle like craft. It's much more like the Apallo era space vehicles, desinged for carrying humans and their gear to the space station and the moon (and maybe mars). We will have launchers to take heavy objects into orbit but nothing to carry one through reentry. The shuttle's truly unique capability is to carry large objects out of space safely but there isn't often a need to do that. In a post shuttle era, if we were building something like the space station, pieces would have to be flown to the space station robotically and then grabed by the robotic arms and installed by astronauts in residence or flown up in the Orion vehicle.

I work in aerospace so I tend to watch what NASA is doing, my retirement might depend on it!

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/constellation/main/index.html

 

[methshin]

Unfortunately, at least for the purposes of this discussion, the next generation of maned space vehicle isn't going to be a shuttle like craft. It's much more like the Apallo era space vehicles, desinged for carrying humans and their gear to the space station and the moon (and maybe mars). We will have launchers to take heavy objects into orbit but nothing to carry one through reentry. The shuttle's truly unique capability is to carry large objects out of space safely but there isn't often a need to do that. In a post shuttle era, if we were building something like the space station, pieces would have to be flown to the space station robotically and then grabed by the robotic arms and installed by astronauts in residence or flown up in the Orion vehicle.

I work in aerospace so I tend to watch what NASA is doing, my retirement might depend on it!

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/constellation/main/index.html

I understand what the new shuttles are going to be like, but I'm sure there are a few scheduled launches between now and their inception. What I'm wondering is how difficult it would be to have the shuttle grab it and pull/push it out further.

My next query is are they planning on installing something like the hubble on the ISS?

 

[Jose Collado]

Like buying congress new private jets?

Like entering a war with no foreseeable end?

I think that it would be a great peice of history to have for our children and our grandchildren to see. Heaven forbid your govt. spend your money on education.

Realistically, and without cynicism, there's a lot you could spend the money on.

 

[AnnetteMarie]

....

My next query is are they planning on installing something like the hubble on the ISS?

If memory serves me, there is a telescope out quite a distance and it is supposed to be aimed in one direction for something like 3 years.

As always, if anyone has more accurate or in-depth info on this one, ie its launch date (I think it was a while ago) or where it is aimed, please feel free to chime in.

 

[Roro]

I'm sure there are a few scheduled launches between now and their inception. What I'm wondering is how difficult it would be to have the shuttle grab it and pull/push it out further.

The Shuttle is mandated to cease operations before the end of 2010 and every remaining mission is to the ISS to complete construction and take up supplies and spare parts. We can only hope they keep them operating safely. There will be a period of time where only the Russians will have hardware capable of servicing the space station and transporting astronauts. I think it took a lot of campaigning by advocates to get Hubble serviced one last time before the shuttle is grounded. I'm afraid Hubbles days are numbered with no chance of reprieve.