Philosophy
Edwin Hubble
The Hubble Space Telescope has served well in its short tenure and will for a while provide more breathtaking photographs. Nothing lasts forever, especially mechanical devices. It just isn't safe or cost effective to send a crew for repairs. Perhaps there may be an outside opportunity for robotic repairs. But there are new and improved instruments on the horizon and who knows...maybe a Hubble Space Telescope II. Technology just keeps improving and perhaps better gyroscopes and batteries will be invented.
The Hubble Space Telescope is getting old now since its rocky initial problems and became operational in 1993. It’s time to be replaced and such a plan is now being developed. The HST has done well indeed, for in the first five years of use, it has examined 10,000 celestial bodies, taken more than 100,000 photographs, and revealed 50 billion galaxies in the universe. Its 13 billion light years range has been exhausted. Granted its computer was updated but it was outdated while being installed. So scientists are thinking of retiring HST and making bigger and better improvements. For one thing, the diameter of the optics will increase from eight foot to 27 feet and, even better, relocate the telescope--place it further away from light interference.
There are complimentary telescopes that have supported HST: Space Infrared Telescope Facility (SIRTF) and Chandra X-ray telescope.
First Photo From New Space Telescope, SIRTF
History of X-Ray Astronomy
And the new James Webb Space Telescope [NGST (New Generation Space Telescope)]
Hubble's Mission and Beyond
The James Webb Space Telescope
Competition for Hubble and Hubble-like space telescopes is the feasible and cost effective "Dome C" site [two miles above sea level] right here on Earth so claim a group from the University of New South Wales. A long time enemy of terrestrial telescopes was atmospherics and thus mountains were sought such as in Chile, Hawaii, or the Canary Islands. The Hubble was free of atmospherics but prone to maintenance periods. The costs for Hubble were enormous: The craft itself, deployment, repair trips, replacement parts. The proposed telescope [The Douglas Mawson Telescope] would be located in the Antarctic and at a far less cost: About 700 million as compared to Hubble's initial launch of two plus billion. The structure would be made from concrete-like "icecrete" and the mirrors made from architectural window glass. Astronomers and the like wouldn't even have to visit the telescope for all could be done remotely by computers. There may be a hearty group of watchers and maintenance people to monitor the site. Incidentally, the Antarctic telescope would be limited to infrared and optical observations. Sounds like a good idea. Any drawbacks...other than freezing?
Astronomy in the deep freeze
Hubble Telescope
- Death Warrant For The Hubble Telescope
"Hubble has 3 more years to make amazing discoveries, NASA says" by Karen Kaplan March 23rd, 2013 Los Angeles Times Scientists and space junkies got some good news from NASA on Friday: The space agency announced it would keep the Hubble Space Telescope...
- Hale Telescope..."first Light" On January 26th, 1949
An historic moment from the past. The Hale Telescope saw is first light on January 26th. 1949 on Mount Palomar. On this occasion, the renowned Edwin Hubble had the honors of directing the telescope to his chosen object, which was a nebula previously...
- Hawaii's Thirty-meter Telescope
Is this a good idea? "Mammoth Telescope to Be Built in Hawaii" by Betsy Mason July 21st, 2009 Wired Hawaii beat out Chile to become the site of the Thirty-Meter Telescope, which is scheduled to be completed in 2018. The giant telescope will have...
- "retire Shuttles" Poll
Is it time to retire the current space shuttles? Yes...4 No...2 Well, Shuttle Atlantis lifted off without a problem today but faces issues of old age, space debris, risky Hubble Telescope repairs, docking with the ISS, and a trip back to Earth. The Shuttle...
- Hubble Pix Selection...win A Prize
Here is an opportunity to celebrate the Year of Astronomy and win a prize. "NASA Wants You to Decide Where It Should Look Next" January 29th, 2009 FOX NEWS.com NASA wants the public to determine where in the universe it will next aim the powerful Hubble...
Philosophy
Time to retire the Hubble Space Telescope
Edwin HubbleThe Hubble Space Telescope has served well in its short tenure and will for a while provide more breathtaking photographs. Nothing lasts forever, especially mechanical devices. It just isn't safe or cost effective to send a crew for repairs. Perhaps there may be an outside opportunity for robotic repairs. But there are new and improved instruments on the horizon and who knows...maybe a Hubble Space Telescope II. Technology just keeps improving and perhaps better gyroscopes and batteries will be invented.
The Hubble Space Telescope is getting old now since its rocky initial problems and became operational in 1993. It’s time to be replaced and such a plan is now being developed. The HST has done well indeed, for in the first five years of use, it has examined 10,000 celestial bodies, taken more than 100,000 photographs, and revealed 50 billion galaxies in the universe. Its 13 billion light years range has been exhausted. Granted its computer was updated but it was outdated while being installed. So scientists are thinking of retiring HST and making bigger and better improvements. For one thing, the diameter of the optics will increase from eight foot to 27 feet and, even better, relocate the telescope--place it further away from light interference.
There are complimentary telescopes that have supported HST: Space Infrared Telescope Facility (SIRTF) and Chandra X-ray telescope.
First Photo From New Space Telescope, SIRTF
History of X-Ray Astronomy
And the new James Webb Space Telescope [NGST (New Generation Space Telescope)]
Hubble's Mission and Beyond
The James Webb Space Telescope
Competition for Hubble and Hubble-like space telescopes is the feasible and cost effective "Dome C" site [two miles above sea level] right here on Earth so claim a group from the University of New South Wales. A long time enemy of terrestrial telescopes was atmospherics and thus mountains were sought such as in Chile, Hawaii, or the Canary Islands. The Hubble was free of atmospherics but prone to maintenance periods. The costs for Hubble were enormous: The craft itself, deployment, repair trips, replacement parts. The proposed telescope [The Douglas Mawson Telescope] would be located in the Antarctic and at a far less cost: About 700 million as compared to Hubble's initial launch of two plus billion. The structure would be made from concrete-like "icecrete" and the mirrors made from architectural window glass. Astronomers and the like wouldn't even have to visit the telescope for all could be done remotely by computers. There may be a hearty group of watchers and maintenance people to monitor the site. Incidentally, the Antarctic telescope would be limited to infrared and optical observations. Sounds like a good idea. Any drawbacks...other than freezing?
Astronomy in the deep freeze
Hubble Telescope
- Death Warrant For The Hubble Telescope
"Hubble has 3 more years to make amazing discoveries, NASA says" by Karen Kaplan March 23rd, 2013 Los Angeles Times Scientists and space junkies got some good news from NASA on Friday: The space agency announced it would keep the Hubble Space Telescope...
- Hale Telescope..."first Light" On January 26th, 1949
An historic moment from the past. The Hale Telescope saw is first light on January 26th. 1949 on Mount Palomar. On this occasion, the renowned Edwin Hubble had the honors of directing the telescope to his chosen object, which was a nebula previously...
- Hawaii's Thirty-meter Telescope
Is this a good idea? "Mammoth Telescope to Be Built in Hawaii" by Betsy Mason July 21st, 2009 Wired Hawaii beat out Chile to become the site of the Thirty-Meter Telescope, which is scheduled to be completed in 2018. The giant telescope will have...
- "retire Shuttles" Poll
Is it time to retire the current space shuttles? Yes...4 No...2 Well, Shuttle Atlantis lifted off without a problem today but faces issues of old age, space debris, risky Hubble Telescope repairs, docking with the ISS, and a trip back to Earth. The Shuttle...
- Hubble Pix Selection...win A Prize
Here is an opportunity to celebrate the Year of Astronomy and win a prize. "NASA Wants You to Decide Where It Should Look Next" January 29th, 2009 FOX NEWS.com NASA wants the public to determine where in the universe it will next aim the powerful Hubble...