Happy Hubble 15th Anniversary!

[star_sirius]

In 1990, the Hubble Space Telescope was launched on Space Shuttle flight STS-031, beginning its incredible career of observation of the Universe from space and allowing us to peer deeper into the cosmos than ever before.<br /><br />Today marks the 15th anniversary of the deployment of Hubble Space Telescope. While everyone in the astronomical community is well aware of what this magnificent telescope "sees", did you know that you can see it with just your eyes? The HST is a satellite that can be tracked and observed. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font size="0" color="#10bdee"><strong>A dazzling bluish luminosity from A distant south pacific.</strong></font><p><br /><img id="cb51e87e-8221-424c-8ff2-78c95122196c" src="http://sitelife.livescience.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/11/15/cb51e87e-8221-424c-8ff2-78c95122196c.Large.jpg" alt="blog post photo" /></p> </div>

 

[redgryphon]

The Hubble Project is celebrating with the release of two new images taken with the Advanced Camera for Surveys of old favourites: M51 and the Eagle Nebula.<br /> <br />LINK

 

[ascan1984]

Is it true that Hubble is to be saved?

 

[lunatio_gordin]

it sure looks that way. The Bill in the House i posted yesterday mentions it.<br />"Both House and Senate bills also endorse a servicing and repair mission to the Hubble Space Telescope. Without such a mission, the Hubble will fail when its gyroscopes and batteries wear out in the next few years, but the agency has not announced whether to let the telescope fail or whether it will undertake a costly manned repair mission. "

 

[kdavis007]

I wonder when will people let go of the Hubble???

 

[lunatio_gordin]

When it can't be fixed anymore. At which point they'll mount a return to earth salvage operation.

 

[alokmohan]

When James Webb steps in.

 

[kdavis007]

Ill be more interested when humans return to the moon and then go to Mars.. The Hubble can burn up.....

 

[ehs40]

would it be cheeper to just bring it back and put it in a musem where people will pay to see it?

 

[lunatio_gordin]

Cheaper than what? servicing it? no. It would probably be more expensive. It's just that people are really attached to the hubble.

 

[erioladastra]

"it sure looks that way. The Bill in the House i posted yesterday mentions it.<br />"Both House and Senate bills also endorse a servicing and repair mission to the Hubble Space Telescope. Without such a mission, the Hubble will fail when its gyroscopes and batteries wear out in the next few years, but the agency has not announced whether to let the telescope fail or whether it will undertake a costly manned repair mission. ""<br /><br />Keep in mind this is just congress saying it is a good idea. Griffin intends to do a mission to HST if the next 2 RTF flights. Lets see what happends to the September flight (which may be delayed for some time).

 

[kdavis007]

I think people are way to attached to the Hubble...

 

[lunatio_gordin]

True, but if it can help get people more interested in space, does it really matter?

 

[ehs40]

i think it needs to be put in a musem next to the space shuttles

 

[lunatio_gordin]

couldn't have said it better myself <img src="/images/icons/tongue.gif" />

 

[rybanis]

I think you established that in your first psudo-toll post in the thread.<br /><br />The science the HST has produced greatly outweighs the dollars it took to build it. Same with the servicing missions.<br /><br />And as its been said before, HST has helped a ton in getting the common man interested in space. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>