NASA successfully switched the Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) of the Hubble Space Telescope to a secondary power channel after a transistor failure in its power supply. The ACS is expected to resume scientific observations soon. Discussions highlight concerns over the future of Hubble, especially after the White House's decision to eliminate funding for servicing missions, focusing instead on deorbiting the telescope. Some participants express frustration over political decisions that prioritize Mars exploration over maintaining Hubble, which has provided invaluable data since its launch. The conversation also touches on the anticipated launch of the James Webb Space Telescope, which is expected to surpass Hubble's capabilities. There is a debate on whether it is more sensible to continue servicing Hubble or to replace it with a new, cost-effective telescope that does not require servicing. The overall sentiment reflects a desire to maximize Hubble's remaining operational time while considering future advancements in space observation technology.
You know, after our Mars-exploring president murdered it with a blunt axe:
Of course idiot politicians (of both parties, I hasten to add) don't care if they blind the human race to the greater cosmos, if they can get a photo op of an American flag on the martian surface and boost their poll ratings. But no, I'm giving them too much credit! They don't even care about getting to Mars - they're just using empty space-travel rhetoric for politics, while not even funding that very initiative! Let alone fund something that's actually worth a darn like the Hubble telescope!
