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Hubble Future Is Cloudier After Katrina
XorNand writes "The AP is reporting that Katrina has further jeopardized the already tenuous future of the Hubble space telescope. The hurricane damaged the Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, where the shuttle's fuel tanks are built, and the Mississippi-based Stennis Space Center, where shuttle engines are tested, NASA officials said."
I'm not sure it's about money. From the article, it seems more that they aren't sure what they are going to do about the fuel tank assembly facility which was damaged during the storm. Unfortunately, the article didn't mention whether they would rebuild the facility or just push off any repairs indefinitely.
Now, I believe that they are going to put off the repairs indefinitely. They will probably let Hubble die gracefully and just focus on the next space telescope mission (Webb).
It is absolutely frustrating.
Jesus saved me from my past. He can save you as well.
The hubble issue really saddens me. I really enjoy going to the daily space picture page that nasa has, and a lot of the pictures there come from the hubble hertidge. Hubble has made so many great breakthoughs that if it cant be repaired, then replace it with something that is easier to maintain and is better.
Space picture of the day:
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
The JWST is not a direct replacement for Hubble, the science overlap between the two has led experts to ask that Hubble be retained once the JWST is in service, and the JWST has been delayed countless times. Current plans have the JWST being deployed two to three years after the Hubble's decommissioning.
neuro at well dot com (when I post, it's my opinions, no-one elses)
Gerry Pournelle wants a billion dollars and three years to put this all back on track. Personally, I think he'd do better than the bureaucrats. http://www.jerrypournelle.com/view/view372.html#NA SA
In times of trouble, the smell of frying onions usually gives confidence and comfort.