The gyros onboard HST are the most sensitive rate sensors ever created by mankind, giving the observatory 7 milliarc-seconds of stability. The hair-like flex leads are suspended in a gel, and they cannot physically remove all the oxygen from the gel, so the flex leads oxidize. L3 makes them, formally Allied Signal, Bendix, etc.
JWST will be an incredible science instrument. But, it cannot "replace" the HST. JWST will do infrared much better than any other instrument, whereas HST currently covers UV, visible, and some IR.
Slashdot Mirror
The gyros onboard HST are the most sensitive rate sensors ever created by mankind, giving the observatory 7 milliarc-seconds of stability. The hair-like flex leads are suspended in a gel, and they cannot physically remove all the oxygen from the gel, so the flex leads oxidize. L3 makes them, formally Allied Signal, Bendix, etc.
JWST will be an incredible science instrument. But, it cannot "replace" the HST. JWST will do infrared much better than any other instrument, whereas HST currently covers UV, visible, and some IR.