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Hubble Stops Sending Data, Mission On Hold

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the try-to-do-as-little-dying-as-possible dept.

mknewman writes to tell us that NASA is no longer receiving data from the Hubble Space Telescope, which could possibly delay the shuttle launch planned just two weeks from now. There is a backup system installed which may be used instead of training the astronauts on the installation of the new component, but that would itself leave no fallback option. "NASA is reviewing whether the mission should be delayed a couple of months so that plans can be made to send up a replacement part for the failed component, said NASA spokesman Michael Curie. It would take time to test and qualify the old replacement part and train the astronauts to install it in the telescope, Curie said. NASA also would have to work out new mission details for the astronauts who have trained for two years to carry out five Hubble repair spacewalks."

39 of 141 comments (clear)

  1. Thwack it... by Notquitecajun · · Score: 4, Funny

    Ah, just give it good ol' emergency repair plan "A." If that doesn't work, send up Richard Dean Andersen with some duct tape.

    1. Re:Thwack it... by Lectoid · · Score: 4, Funny

      Comon, we all know you have to send Clint Eastwood and Tommy Lee Jones. Space Cowboys was a documentary, right?

      --
      Is it just me, or do you hate it when people say "Is it just me..."?
    2. Re:Thwack it... by mcgrew · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I'm sure they did the equivalent of "thwacking it". But the "thwack" repair method seldom lasts long.

      "Thwack it" is for things like the martian hoopties Spirit and Opportunity ("Hoopties" because they're WAY out of warrantee) that you can't send a mechanic to fix.

      Or us rednecks with broken cars and even broker wallets; I fixed a heater hose with duct tape on a '74 LeMans, and it still held leak-free when I sold the old junker three years later. You don't fix Rolls Royces or Hubble Telescopes with duct tape!

      --
      Free Martian Whores!
    3. Re:Thwack it... by oldspewey · · Score: 5, Interesting

      the "thwack" repair method seldom lasts long

      Almost three years ago, our dishwasher (which was only a year old at the time) stopped working. After a bit of troubleshooting I determined that the solenoid valve in the water intake was shot - my multimeter indicated that it was receiving an electrical signal, but the valve wouldn't open so the dishwasher couldn't fill.

      I whacked it with a hammer and it's been working flawlessly ever since.

      --
      If libertarians are so opposed to effective government, why don't they all move to Somalia?
    4. Re:Thwack it... by code_monkey_steve · · Score: 2, Funny

      If that doesn't work, send up Richard Dean Andersen with some duct tape.

      Wouldn't an F-302 be more useful than duct-tape?

      Wait, which show are we referencing, again?

    5. Re:Thwack it... by mcgrew · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Probably, but whether the cure is a good thwack or electrical tape, you still have to take the thing apart.

      It sounds like some waterproofing dried up and cracked and caused a short when water got in it. A little duct tape and electrical tape may be all you need.

      --
      Free Martian Whores!
    6. Re:Thwack it... by oldspewey · · Score: 3, Funny

      Option 1: Phone the manufacturer, arrange for a service call, take time off work to make sure I'm home, make small talk with a technician for 30-60 minutes while he diagnoses the same problem I already found, listen in disbelief when he tells me he doesn't have the appropriate part on hand, arrange for another service call, take more time off work ....

      Option 2: Hit the solenoid with a hammer.

      --
      If libertarians are so opposed to effective government, why don't they all move to Somalia?
    7. Re:Thwack it... by Rorschach1 · · Score: 4, Interesting

      I once saw some old video from one of the Apollo landings where the color wheel on one of the fixed cameras got stuck. Ground control asks one of the astronauts to take a look at it, and he slowly bounces over to it and THWACK - hits it with a gloved hand and gets the color wheel unstuck. If anyone knows where I can find that on the web, let me know... it's one of my favorite Apollo clips.

    8. Re:Thwack it... by smaddox · · Score: 2, Funny

      I'm unaware of any solenoid valves on the Hubble Space Telescope.

    9. Re:Thwack it... by Chyeld · · Score: 3, Informative

      Duct tape by any other name, is still so very sweet. As long as you aren't using it on ducts. Which ironicly, it's completely inappropriate for.

    10. Re:Thwack it... by KGIII · · Score: 4, Interesting

      I actually used duct tape on duct, once. I was venting the propane gas drier outside for a buddy of mine and had none of the 100 MPH tape. The 100 MPH tape is essentially duct tape on steroids. I could be biased but I have used both commercial and military and, well, I have to say that the difference is obvious to me at least. It is VERY sticky and VERY strong compared to the stuff you get at your local hardware store. Again, that could be observational bias, it's not like I've stress tested the two under various conditions to see the result and measure the result or anything...

      Oddity note: Once I was out of boot I would leave a small piece of this tape on the stock of my rifle. It allowed me to put my face to it and feel where it was and get into a firing position more quickly and accurately. The subtle feel was enough, my rifle was sighted in at 500 yds and, it is hard to explain, to feel where you *should* be without needing to sight in (like you'll have time for THAT in combat) to adjust for a shorter or longer range is... Hmm... Almost like magic except nothing like it.

      Err... I drove maggots around and brought the maggots supplies while they were shitbags in OCS. (Later they'd be my leaders.) It was a near constant that I had to be able to hump 20 miles, show them how to get unstuck without a tow vehicle, bivie with them for a few days, and constantly have to prove how a "Real Marine" was prepared and could fire his rifle better than the maggots and shitbags. (Maggots earned their way in. Shitbags earned their way in but came via nepotism. "You are not your daddy's sperm shitbag! Did you fuck your daddy to make you? Did you fuck your mother? No shitbag? Well the whole platoon is going to fuck her tonight shitbag. While you watch. I'm going first, let's see if you can build some muscles up shitbag. Drop and give me fifty." OCS in the Marines is probably not what people expect.)

      Sorry - I came back before hitting submit in an attempt to see if I should censor the text above. I opt not to. As tempting as it is to not offend I am more willing to ensure that the historical value (if any) remains true.

      We put splints in place with this tape. We held things meant to make loud booms together with it. We taped maggots to hot steam pipes when it was suggested we do so with it. (You can tape a maggot - you can not tape a shitbag. Yes, this is hazing, yes this is the Marines. Yes, I think that this was required. Don't like it, don't serve. 'Snot PC or anything but we need tough people making tough choices at a time when failure is not an option.) There are stories of patched airplanes and there was a story floating around about a patched chopper rotor but, frankly, I don't believe that one.

      Anyhow, I have rambled on long enough but want to continue for a moment. I apologize, ahead of time, for having taken up your time with the post but it seemed as good a place as any to ramble about it. I have some strange (by many opinions) views of how things should be. When we picked up new medals, awards, ranks if you will we had a ritual. The blouse was worn as all Marines wear it but the people getting their medals (think the pins that have backs on them) would stand there. First the issuing officer would give you the backs to the medals. He'd then take the medal and *press* it into you. He was gentle. You would remain at attention for this. The remainder of the squad would then come along and PUNCH that medal into you. Yes, meaning you pried it out of either bone or tissue when they were done. And you did so with pride. And you did so while remaining at attention. You look beyond the people, you look beyond the pain.

      To most who haven't served that would seem barbaric. Indeed it is. Having "punched chests" and had my chest punched enough I can assure you that I never harbored any ill will towards those doing so and, in fact, I believe I am stronger for it. If one can't handle that then it is my belief that they don't belong in the Marines who's job consists of killing, dying, living through pain, and being first and foremost a rifleman.

      This is now way off topic but I figured I'd better explain the latter so that the entirety made sense.

      --
      "So long and thanks for all the fish."
  2. Tagged "oops" by KGIII · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Let's see if it sticks.

    I dearly love NASA but, well, it is going to get harder to convince the public to continue funding if they have an impression of a high failure rate.

    --
    "So long and thanks for all the fish."
    1. Re:Tagged "oops" by Detritus · · Score: 5, Insightful

      High failure rate?! The HST is a very complex spacecraft. Parts wear out and break. That's why spacecraft are designed with redundant systems. HST was designed to be repaired and upgraded in-orbit, and has already exceeded its design lifetime. In the real world, components fail and increased reliability is not free. Spacecraft engineering is a balancing act. You want to accomplish the mission with minimum cost and a relatively high probability of success. Spacecraft projects that can't manage risks and costs get canceled. There is a limited pool of money and NASA has a responsibility to get the most scientific bang for the buck.

      --
      Mea navis aericumbens anguillis abundat
    2. Re:Tagged "oops" by Volante3192 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Yeah, cause the HST's just been a fountain of failures since it was lanched in 1990.

      Seriously, outside of that mirror bit early on, we've serviced the Hubble thrice. And it's up there in one of the most extreme environments imaginable. I can't imagine a piece of kit on Earth surviving 18+ years with only five service calls.

    3. Re:Tagged "oops" by oldspewey · · Score: 2, Interesting

      My understanding was that Hubble had a life expectancy of 20 years. It was launched in 1990, so going dark in 2008 is perhaps a little premature but hardly what I'd call a failure.

      --
      If libertarians are so opposed to effective government, why don't they all move to Somalia?
    4. Re:Tagged "oops" by drerwk · · Score: 2, Informative

      My understanding was that Hubble had a life expectancy of 20 years.

      From where do you understand this?
      Design Life: Designed for a 15 year life with on-orbit servicing. http://www.aerospaceguide.net/hubblespacetelescope.html
      And naturally things would be going better if on-orbit servicing was still considered a regular option.

    5. Re:Tagged "oops" by Brett+Buck · · Score: 4, Insightful

      This is just bullshit. All that has happened is a primary unit had failed, after close to 20 years of flight (not to mention the grossly excessive "shelf life" resulting from the Challenger launch delay). They have a backup, that's what it is there for. And this is hardly a high failure rate, we have already gotten more than it was designed for.

              Brett

    6. Re:Tagged "oops" by Sloppy · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I dearly love NASA but, well, it is going to get harder to convince the public to continue funding if they have an impression of a high failure rate.

      Um, it was launched in 1990. Anyone who thinks NASA is incompetent simply because their stuff doesn't last "enough decades" has an unwinable vote anyway. I love NASA a lot less than you, but I sure as hell don't see this as serious anti-NASA propaganda fuel.

      --
      As copyright owner of this comment, I authorize everyone to defeat any technological measure which limits access to it.
    7. Re:Tagged "oops" by mcgrew · · Score: 3, Interesting

      I can't imagine a piece of kit on Earth surviving 18+ years with only five service calls.

      The Panasonic portable TV I left in a house I moved out of in 2004 or 5 (Paxil withdrawal, home foreclosure, bankrupcy, it's diaried at K5 somewhere) was the same one I watched Niel and Buzz land on the moon with!

      It had two repairs, despite falling out of moving vehicles, dropped, and suffering other indignities: The insulation on the power cord cracked and caused a short (fixed with electrical tape) and the tuner knob broke (fixed by using pliars to change channels).

      They don't make 'em like they used to.

      --
      Free Martian Whores!
    8. Re:Tagged "oops" by sorak · · Score: 2, Funny

      I can't imagine a piece of kit on Earth surviving 18+ years with only five service calls.

      The Panasonic portable TV I left in a house I moved out of in 2004 or 5 (Paxil withdrawal, home foreclosure, bankrupcy, it's diaried at K5 somewhere) was the same one I watched Niel and Buzz land on the moon with!

      It had two repairs, despite falling out of moving vehicles, dropped, and suffering other indignities: The insulation on the power cord cracked and caused a short (fixed with electrical tape) and the tuner knob broke (fixed by using pliars to change channels).

      They don't make 'em like they used to.

      So you're saying we should send that television into space?

    9. Re:Tagged "oops" by KGIII · · Score: 4, Insightful

      The masses aren't very bright and they're allowed to vote and call their congress critters. Hell, look at all the people who responded somehow managing to conclude that I thought that this was a high failure rate. I worry about NASA in this day and age. With the impending lapse of manned flight and a potential to not have access to the space station I worry that we're falling behind. If, for no other reason than moral, we needed the space program at first. Today we need it just to keep up.

      When I was a kid the entire family or the entire school would gather around to watch the launches live. Today you seldom get those launches on your major channels and the only coverage is failure. I don't know how many people who've said stuff like, "We don't need a space program." Granted, these are likely the same people who say stuff like, "Let's bomb Iran next, serves them Arabs right." The problem is that they vote and are allowed to.

      I hold a special place in my heart for NASA or space programs in general. You ask a kid what they want to be today and they want to be a rap star. When I was young we all wanted to be astronauts. The only time they see or hear about space is when goes wrong or, worse, blows up and kills people.

      --
      "So long and thanks for all the fish."
    10. Re:Tagged "oops" by CheshireCatCO · · Score: 3, Insightful

      As has already been noted, NASA's failure rate isn't really that high. If anything, it may be the reverse: NASA has become so risk-adverse (it's argued) that the public has forgotten how *hard* space is and it starts to seem boring. (And like a good idea to raid the NASA budget for other projects because they appear to have more than they need.)

    11. Re:Tagged "oops" by totally+bogus+dude · · Score: 2, Insightful

      You ask a kid what they want to be today and they want to be a rap star. ... The only time they see or hear about space is when goes wrong or, worse, blows up and kills people.

      To be fair, that's when we normally hear about rap stars, too.

  3. Congress Bail out the Hubble *NOW* by FireStormZ · · Score: 5, Funny

    After all the Hubble is less responsible for its state than Wall street is for where it ended up!

    --
    "Ahh! Arrogance and stupidity in the same package, how efficient of you!" --Londo Molari
    1. Re:Congress Bail out the Hubble *NOW* by rhsanborn · · Score: 4, Informative

      Unfortunately, Congress dropping 700 Billion on Wall Street might end up cutting into NASA's budget, along with several other programs.

    2. Re:Congress Bail out the Hubble *NOW* by eclectro · · Score: 2, Funny

      Yes, but the Hubble still needs a bail out.

      --
      Take the cheese to sickbay, the doctor should see it as soon as possible - B'Elanna Torres, "Learning Curve"
    3. Re:Congress Bail out the Hubble *NOW* by lgw · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I particularly like Warren Buffet's reasoned analysis: "I just sank billions into Goldmen Sacks - we need moar bailout nao!!!"

      The panick over motgage-backed securities has largely subsided. The only reaosn there's no market for these securities today is that no one wants to sell them at market value when they expect the government to step in and buy them up at significantly above market value.

      My bank isn't in trouble - is yours?

      --
      Socialism: a lie told by totalitarians and believed by fools.
    4. Re:Congress Bail out the Hubble *NOW* by TorKlingberg · · Score: 5, Informative

      As a comparison the entire Apollo program cost about 135 Billion (in 2005 Dollars).

  4. This only means one thing... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Invasion.

  5. Better to have it fail now... by casualsax3 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    ... than after the repair mission.

    1. Re:Better to have it fail now... by Sloppy · · Score: 4, Funny

      Why add a docking port if there's nothing in future that is going to dock with it?

      To increase its sale value, silly.

      --
      As copyright owner of this comment, I authorize everyone to defeat any technological measure which limits access to it.
  6. With apologies to The Bard by davidwr · · Score: 2, Funny

    Hubble, Hubble, toil and trouble, watch starfire burn with excitement bubble.

    --
    Knowledge is how to play a game, intelligence is how to win, wisdom is knowing what game to play.
  7. Bandwidth overload? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Maybe too many people were using the Hubble's bandwidth once they figured out that was cheaper than text messaging.

  8. press conference at 6pm EDT by ChrisCampbell47 · · Score: 4, Informative

    Press conference at 6pm EDT, more info then. Bill Harwood at CBS Spaceplace usually does good writeups, as does Chris Bergin at nasaspaceflight.com , so look over there tonight.

    --
    One simple rule for its versus it's
  9. In case anybody was wondering, because I was. by apodyopsis · · Score: 4, Interesting

    In case anybody was wondering, because I was...

    It was launched in 1990 for a 15 year mission, extended to 20 after some servicing. It was expected to last until 2010 (the year we make contact? sorry I could not help it) so its already done its job very well.

    As I understand it Interferometry can largely do a better job from the surface, please correct me if I am wrong...

    And as pointed out elsewhere they are short on shuttle flights and 700Bn down, so its not looking good for Hubble.

    1. Re:In case anybody was wondering, because I was. by tomz16 · · Score: 3, Informative

      (polite correction)...

      Saying "Interferometry can do better" makes no sense... similar to saying "RISC can do better" for you computer geeks. It's basically jargon + the phrase can do better. Meaningless without a problem statement and a lot of background info.

      In reality, very few optical telescopes can operate in an interferometric mode, and there's a specific class of problems where it's actually useful. Furthermore, I think it would hard to define "better" in this context. FYI there are also preliminary plans out there for formation-flying interferometric space telescopes (none are currently on the map for real funding AFAIK).

      In terms of absolute resolution over a small field with just a single telescope (non-interferometric), ground-based Adaptive Optics *can* do better (under certain conditions)... in the near future, they will be able to do significantly better than the Hubble over a much larger range of conditions... -But- there are still PLENTY of things that ONLY a space telescope can do, a buttload of things it does "better", and tons of interesting science that remains to be done.

  10. Suspended operations by MrNougat · · Score: 4, Funny

    The Hubble Space Telescope has suspended operations so that it can focus on solving the financial crisis.

    --
    Web 2.0 == Giant Blogspam Circle Jerk
  11. Mike Broke The Hubble! by MuscaDomestica · · Score: 2, Funny

    Damn you Nelson Destroyer of Worlds!

  12. I hope the NASA engineers... by billybob_jcv · · Score: 3, Funny

    ...can find their Windows/386 boot disk...