Posted on 02/07/2005 9:15:56 AM PST by NormsRevenge
That's right. Keck and other new ground-based scopes are also getting excellent results with adaptive optics. Optical interferometry will probably work as well for the dual Keck as it does for radio telescopes when that program comes on line.
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The future of the Hubble Space Telescope hangs in the balance, after the White House declined to approve the necessary funding to repair and upgrade the apparatus, US media reported.
1) This has nothing to do with the eeeeevil Mexicans.
2) The Hubble was freakin fantastic, but for what a servicing mission would cost we could build a whole new telescope with a similar design, but with modern hardware and all of the upgrade packages slated to be included in the proposed upgrade to Hubble I. This is actually being seriously considered and is probably the best way to go, as far as science-for-your-buck is concerned.
If you have a 286 computer, is it really worthwhile to upgrade it to the point it can handle a DVD player? Naw, you'd just buy a new computer.
I worked on the SSC. Tabletop colliders will probably make such huge colliders unnecessary in a few years or decades, so the SSC is moot at this point. The Large Hadron Collider is coming along, but of course it is in Europe, the land of our main competitors. There is a lot of international cooperation in big science, but with tabletop colliders science will probably become more competitive and we do not have a distinct advantage.
This is an old government trick. When facing a limited budget, threaten to cut the popular program to try to get more money.
This is the same reason schools always threaten to cut buses and sports at levy time. If they threatened to cut the school's assistant director of art therapy, the citizens would wonder "if we cut even more could we get rid of the director of art therapy, too?"
Ah, I get it. It's Constitutional because our Nation is going to have to leave this planet in order to survive.
Mmmmmmmmmm-kay. *<8O}
as stated earlier in this thread, the NGST( Next Generation Space Telescope) is due to go to orbit in 2007. That is the replacement for Hubble.
In truth, I will mourn the end of Hubble. IT has opened the eyes of man to the beauty of the universe. But alas, it is time for it to retire.
Unlike a car or a plane or ever a shuttle, an orbital device like hubble is not repairable forever. It is subject to radiation, solar winds, micro metors, thousands of extreme heating and cooling cycles. all of this takes it toll on the equipment. And yes, while it is possible to fix hubble, it is also true that the money is better spent on the NGST.
As for those that feel we do not belong in space, then we do not belong anywhere. The one overwhelming passion of mankind is to look over the next ridge, to see what is over that hill, to find out what is on the other side of the ocean, to reach for the stars. Will we make it there? is it possible? who knows! will it cost lives adn money; YES! Is it all worth it? ask the settlers that crossed the great plains, the voyagers that crossed the atlantic, the men and women that set out to explore a world called Earth. I wouls suspect they would say it is well worth it.
> I remain unconvinced that any space exploration -- much less the expense associated with human space exploration -- is Constitutional
So you think national defense is unConstitutional?
Pardon my poor english, I've been up for 26 hours.
Hmmm... Keep spending billions on the ISS (not sure where the science is, but we keep Europe happy) and scrap the Hubble. Sigh.
Yes, unless dragging a hoe through the subsistence vegetable garden is a suitable destiny for our young people and our piece of the human race. As far as leaving the planet--in 500 million years the planet will not support animal or plant life. The sun will fill the sky horizon to horizon. It might not seem so to gardeners who mainly just watch the weather, but we will have to break camp eventually. Can't say the Constitution directly addresses that situation.
So you think a manned mission to Mars is national defense?
The ISS is approaching the end of its design lifetime. The Space Shuttle also. They still have some utility, but they are both about over. It looks like we are getting serious about space exploration, and while we might debate which programs would be best, the general direction is right, IMHO.
We could move into outer space even bigger and faster, and do it for next to zero public funding if we create private property rights in outer space. The private sector can do it and do it big, but the State needs to make it possible. It is not possible without private property rights of some kind.
Sorry. "The James Webb Telescope" looks in the IR band (not visible light like Hubble) and is not scheduled to launch until 2011 at the earliest.
In truth, I will mourn the end of Hubble. IT has opened the eyes of man to the beauty of the universe. But alas, it is time for it to retire.
The new instrument packages (all ready paid for BTW) will upgrade the Hubble big time.
Unlike a car or a plane or ever a shuttle, an orbital device like hubble is not repairable forever. It is subject to radiation, solar winds, micro metors, thousands of extreme heating and cooling cycles. all of this takes it toll on the equipment. And yes, while it is possible to fix hubble, it is also true that the money is better spent on the NGST.
Really? In the satellite world, often the life of the vehicle is measured in FUEL not the structure. Gyros, solar arrays, onboard electronics, etc. can slowly degrade over time. However, these are replaced on Hubble and there is no fuel system at all.
As for those that feel we do not belong in space, then we do not belong anywhere. The one overwhelming passion of mankind is to look over the next ridge, to see what is over that hill, to find out what is on the other side of the ocean, to reach for the stars. Will we make it there? is it possible? who knows! will it cost lives adn money; YES! Is it all worth it? ask the settlers that crossed the great plains, the voyagers that crossed the atlantic, the men and women that set out to explore a world called Earth. I wouls suspect they would say it is well worth it.
Agree.
I completely disagree. A servicing mission (with parts that are already paid for) would cost far less (possibly in the billion range) than a new telescope.
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