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Hubble Camera Shuts Down

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the in-space-nobody-can-see-you-scream dept.

Maggie McKee writes "Hubble's main camera is offline again, but the problem does not appear to be with its power supply, like it was this summer. This time, the issue seems to be the electronics on the sharpest of its three camera-like channels, the High Resolution Channel. NASA says the worst-case scenario is that the ACS could lose half the channel's field of view, so it would take longer to observe its targets. If the problems are truly unrelated, it's been an especially unlucky few months for this instrument!"

3 of 106 comments (clear)

  1. How much could we learn? by sdo1 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Hubble is and has been an amazing scientific instrument. While I do love the idea of sending people into space, I feel more and more that the money is far better spent on unmanned missions, including satellites like Hubble. Instead of figuring out how to send humans to Mars (and back to the moon), pour 25% of that budget into Hubble II and Hubble III (or whatever you'd want to call them) and the rest into unmanned probes/missions to Mars. It just feels to me like money well spent. Build two or three identical satellites. Yea, that's expensive, but if one goes south, you figure out why, fix it in the one sitting on the ground (if it's something that can be fixed/improved) and fire it up into orbit.

    The Mars rovers and Hubble have been absolute bargains as far as new knowledge gained. That seems like the right model to follow.

    -S

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    --- What parts of "shall make no law", "shall not be infringed", and "shall not be violated" don't you understand?
  2. Stupid nationalism by Schraegstrichpunkt · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Seriously, people... Who cares what country they come from? Space exploration is ultimately the achievement of the people who are involved with it, not most Slashdotters, politicians, or others who just happen to be from the same arbitrary zone of political union.

    If the only things you can be proud of are things that you in no way actually caused, then you need to re-evaluate your self-worth.

    Now, BAG MY GROCERIES!

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    http://outcampaign.org/
  3. Hubble Origins Probe by bhima · · Score: 2, Interesting

    The Hubble Origins Probe is the cheapest, easiest, and fastest way to replace the Hubble. And it doesn't even require the shuttle.

    http://www.pha.jhu.edu/hop/

    It's not that hard people. Call your senators and ask them why in the hell this isn't already in orbit.

    --
    Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.