President Bush To Hubble Space Telescope: See You In Hell
SpaceExploration Friday, January 16, 2004 . This is a SciScoop post by Ricky James
As reported by Paul Recer of
Associated Press: NASA is canceling all space shuttle servicing missions to the Hubble Space Telescope, a decision that, in effect, will cause the powerful observatory to slowly degrade and eventually become useless, officials said today.
John Grunsfeld, NASA’s chief scientist, said NASA administrator Sean O’Keefe made the decision to cancel the fifth space shuttle service mission to the Hubble when it became clear there was not enough time to conduct it before the shuttle is retired. The servicing mission was considered essential to enable the orbiting telescope to continue to operate.
“This is a sad day,” said Grunsfeld, but he said the decision “is the best thing for the space community.” He said the decision was influenced by President Bush’s new space initiative, which calls for NASA to start developing the spacecraft and equipment for voyages to the moon and later to Mars. The president’s plan also called for the space shuttle to be retired by 2010. Virtually all of the shuttle’s remaining flights would be used to complete construction of the International Space Station.
The shuttle has been grounded since the explosion of the Columbia nearly a year ago.
Grunsfeld said Bush “directed us to use this precious resource” (the shuttle) toward completing the International Space Station and fulfilling U.S. obligations to the 15 partner nations.
Without servicing missions, he said, the Hubble should continue operating until 2007 or 2008, “as long as we can.”
The observatory has ailing gyroscopes which were to be replaced on the servicing mission, which already has been delayed by the Columbia accident. Grunsfeld said the Hubble has three good gyros and one that is not working well. Software was being developed to work with only two gyroscopes, he said, but the telescope will not have the same capabilities.
Servicing missions are required to the Hubble every few years to tune up the complex craft and to replace worn-out parts. Four times previously spacewalking astronauts have installed new parts or upgraded the observatory with new instruments.
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9 Responses to President Bush To Hubble Space Telescope: See You In Hell
SEWilco
January 17th, 2004 at 12:53 am
Why is 2010 often being mentioned?
rickyjames
January 17th, 2004 at 5:15 am
Let me just say that deciding the Space Station is valuable enough for precious remaining Shuttle missions while Hubble is not is so outright stupid that I lack the words to express my contempt of this decision. Scientific contributions from Space Station are effectively zero. Scientific contributions from Hubble are a once-in-a-lifetime limited glimpse of infinity.
And using the Shuttle to finish construction of ISS and then forgo Shuttle servicing of the complex? Insanity. Save the money and quit now. Without the Shuttle, the Station is a two-man outpost permanently until it dies a quick death without reboost. You just can’t get enough supplies up in Soyuz to maintain it, much less use it. How ironic. I was so excited when Reagan started this project in 1983 that I went to work on it myself. Now? Will the last Russian onboard please turn out the lights?
SEWilco
January 17th, 2004 at 8:16 am
I haven’t seen details, but NASA has mentioned commitments are involved. The obvious problem is that there is a limited time until 2010 and there are many ISS modules to be delivered. Implied are the agreements with partner countries to launch their modules and complete the ISS. Less obvious are the barter agreements, such as a country building an ISS module in exchange for NASA launching something for that country, which might require Shuttle activity.
NASA might be able to use different launch platforms to accomplish some goals. But I would not be surprised if most equipment has been designed for the characteristics of the Shuttle and must use that platform. There is also little time until 2010, so development of a new launch vehicle would be difficult.
The STS schedulers certainly have their hands full. I hope the few shuttles continue functioning well (are there too few shuttles for them to be a “fleet”?).
jayrtfm
January 18th, 2004 at 11:46 pm
First, they *HAD* to cancel SMS4 for safety reasons. All shuttle trips have to go to the ISS so that inspections can be done.
With companies like Orbital Recovery Corporation having well developed plans to move the Hubble to nearby the ISS, chances are it will be with us for a long time
BeckySue
January 19th, 2004 at 2:01 pm
You are right. It seems that the current Pres. has his priorities confused, but that can change.
jdoe
January 20th, 2004 at 7:01 am
Highly unlikely. I think he has his priorities just right. It’s just that we (TINW) don’t know what his priorities are. Beyond the obvious that is – making money for his buddies and getting reelected.
Only with the president
jdoe
January 20th, 2004 at 7:12 am
It has nothing to do with safety. If there were a genuine desire to maintain HST, US could always pay Russians. They would provide safety backup for a fraction of the cost.
It’s about money. W wants to consolidate the space budget bacase a few large contracts awarded to his buddies is a lot more money for them than dozens of small dispersed contracts.
apsmith
January 20th, 2004 at 11:19 am
Dennis Wingo has written an article on recovering Hubble using the Orbital Recovery vehicle.
momdog
January 20th, 2004 at 8:44 pm
It’s the conquest, stupid!
We get the moon and mars, and we can continue to beat up the rest of the world and rake in the last of the earth’s resources for ourselves.
To heck with global warming treaties, UN treaties, clean air and all that silly stuff. We’ll just take our toys and play somewhere else.