Is the Hubble Telescope in Need of Another Repair?

  • Thread starter Thread starter LowlyPion
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Launch
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the servicing mission of the Hubble Space Telescope, specifically the STS-125 mission, which involves repairs and upgrades to the telescope. Participants explore the challenges faced by astronauts during the mission, the history of Hubble, and concerns regarding the shuttle's safety and potential damage from space debris.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Meta-discussion

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants note that the STS-125 mission is the final servicing mission for Hubble, which has been in orbit since 1990 and requires significant repairs due to aging components.
  • Others discuss the logistical challenges of the mission, including the astronauts' tight schedule and the complexity of performing repairs in space.
  • A participant raises concerns about the risk of damage from space junk, which is a significant issue for the shuttle during its mission.
  • Some participants mention the minor damage to the shuttle's heat shield and express confusion about ongoing issues with shuttle safety, referencing the Columbia disaster.
  • There are discussions about the capabilities of the new Wide Field Camera 3 being installed on Hubble, which is expected to enhance its imaging capabilities.
  • Participants share links to various news sources and NASA TV for live coverage of the mission, indicating a strong interest in real-time updates.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a mix of agreement on the importance of the servicing mission and the challenges involved, but there is no consensus on the implications of the shuttle's safety issues or the effectiveness of past repairs. Multiple competing views on the risks associated with space debris and shuttle design flaws are present.

Contextual Notes

Some discussions highlight limitations in understanding the ongoing safety concerns with the shuttle, particularly regarding the design flaws related to foam insulation and heat shielding. The conversation reflects uncertainty about the long-term viability of the shuttle program as it approaches retirement.

Who May Find This Useful

Readers interested in space exploration, astronautics, and the engineering challenges of servicing space telescopes may find this discussion relevant.

  • #31
Cyrus said:
No, not the foam. How much tile.
According to NOVA the chunk of that lightweight insulating foam was about the size of a briefcase and it punched a hole about the size of a dinner-plate in the carbon-tile leading edge of the wing.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #32
Cyrus said:
No, not the foam. How much tile.
I don't think there was much left of columbia to measure but the tests they did firing foam at a model gave a hole about 40x40cm
 
  • #33
mgb_phys said:
I don't think there was much left of columbia to measure but the tests they did firing foam at a model gave a hole about 40x40cm

Thats a huge 1ft x 1ft hole compared to these scuffs.
 
  • #34
The ESA Herschel and Planck missions launched successfully, separated form the booster and are on their way to L2.
Not as dramatic as a shuttle launch but hopefully some good science.

http://www.esa.int/images/_SCO6143_large,0.jpg
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #35
I keep hearing that this repair mission is particularly dangerous because there is a large amount of debris in that orbit. If so, then why is the Hubble there?
 
  • #36
LEO is a popular neighbourhood, Hubble is also limited to being in an orbit that the shuttle can reach which isn't ideal for a bunch of other reasons.
It's not so much specifically Hubble but there are lots of things at that sort of orbit, the collision a couple of months ago didn't help
 
  • #37
NASA said:
Due to the crew sleeping an hour later, the Hubble mission's timeline also will shift one hour to the right.

http://twitter.com/nasa

:rolleyes:
 
  • #38
Hubble EVA videos - in high resolution!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPVIbHFP_s4

 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #39
mgb_phys said:
LEO is a popular neighbourhood, Hubble is also limited to being in an orbit that the shuttle can reach which isn't ideal for a bunch of other reasons.
It's not so much specifically Hubble but there are lots of things at that sort of orbit, the collision a couple of months ago didn't help

Soooooo, I guess that normally the shuttle is at lower and safer altitudes, and the Hubble required a higher altitude, so a compromise was required that left Hubble in a somewhat undesirable orbit wrt the risk of a collision?
 
  • #40
Well the ideal place to put Hubble is something like L2 but that's 1.5M km away so a bit tricky. Other than that - the higher the better, the lower you are the more drag the more the Earth gets in the way and the low inclination orbit from the cape means it hits the SAA.
The height is a bit of a compromise - of the first set of shuttles only a couple could reach it (IIRC) which caused some more delays

Collision wise there's nothing particularly bad about Hubble's orbit that 10km up or down would really help.
 
  • #41
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iTXU_Tjsa2sPYDLX--U8e4eS1TtQ
CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (AFP) — NASA on Saturday further delayed the return to Earth of the space shuttle Atlantis and its seven-man crew because of poor weather.

Attempts to land the shuttle, following a successful mission to repair the Hubble telescope, had to be completely abandoned on Friday because of inclement conditions at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

NASA said it had decided not to use the first window of opportunity on Saturday, scheduled for 9:16 am (1316 GMT), for the same reason.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/media/ALeqM5gDr6KtQc4g7DP2I9IVpZbalGCsbg?size=l

NASA said:
The next two landing opportunities are at Edwards Air Force Base in California at 10:45 a.m. or Kennedy again at 10:54 a.m.

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/launch/landing_blog.html

NASA said:
For a 10:45aET landing at Edwardds, the deorbit burn would occur at 9:29a. Mission Control continues to monitor weather at Kennedy though.
http://twitter.com/nasa
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #42
NASA said:
"Go" for Edwards Deorbit Burn
Mission control at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston just gave the astronauts aboard Atlantis a "go" for the deorbit burn on orbit 197, putting them on course for a 11:39 a.m. touchdown in California. This firing of the two orbital maneuvering system engines will slow the shuttle enough to begin the glide back to Earth.

Atlantis Looks Toward California Landing
Mission control has decided a Florida landing today is a "no go" due to weather around the landing site but they will continue to target the landing at Edwards on the 197th orbit, putting touchdown in California at 11:39 a.m. Deorbit burn would come at 10:24 a.m.

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/launch/landing_blog.html
 
  • #43
Oh, sweet - I'm going to be in Orlando next week. Maybe I'll get to see it fly back!
 
  • #44
Burn is complete and the shuttle is maneuvering to nose-first position for atmospheric entry.
 
  • #46
Welcome home!
 
  • #47
Safely down - perfect landing.
 
  • #48


drankin said:
I thought we already fixed hubble? What's wrong with it?

is he having a laugh?
 

Similar threads

NASA NASA's 2008 Manned Flight to Repair and Upgrade Hubble Telescope
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
3K
Will NASA's Hubble Servicing Mission Save the Telescope?
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K