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apl4eris
~ Abstract Brain ~
USA
4800 Posts |
 Posted - 02/26/2004 : 14:45:41
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http://www.npr.org/display_pages/features/feature_1706578.html (nice retrospective photo gallery here)
"Feb. 26, 2004 -- Last month, NASA shocked the astronomy world by announcing that it would let the Hubble Space Telescope die a slow death in orbit.
The telescope has been in orbit since 1990, and during that time, it has solved some of the great mysteries of astronomy, and discovered new ones. Astronomers used Hubble to determine the age of the universe. They also discovered a mysterious force in the cosmos -- called dark energy -- that permeates space and could determine the fate of the universe.
But NASA, citing problems with safety and logistics, has canceled a space shuttle mission that would have extended Hubble's life beyond the year 2006. Since the February 2003 Columbia shuttle accident, NASA has found it difficult to satisfy new safety rules. The Hubble mission became even harder to plan when President Bush earlier this year called for retiring the space shuttles as soon as possible.
This decision has come as a particular shock to the scientists and engineers at Hubble's nerve center, the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, Md. As NPR's Richard Harris reports, the staff there isn't giving up on the beloved observatory."
I can't imagine why NASA would not be able to come up with a safer procedure for maintaining Hubble - and surely such a powerful telescope already in orbit is worth the effort in the long run. There won't be other telescopes that can match its capabilities for exploring dark energy for at least 10 years. How do you guys feel about this? Please share any favorite images from Hubble!
666 Dunkin' Donuts, a 20-inch veggie pizza from Gumby's, extra jalapenos on the side. And a case of Asahi Dry - |
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glacial906
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1738 Posts |
Posted - 02/26/2004 : 15:16:20
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| I would guess the reason that they are planning now to let Hubble die is because of the renewed federal interest in the space program. Maybe in order to hope for a manned expedition to Mars they have to cut other corners. Totally not a good reason, in my opinion though. |
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Cheeseman1000
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<
Iceland
8201 Posts |
Posted - 02/26/2004 : 15:42:57
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I would imagine they'd replace it with a Plutonium P36 Space Modulator, but I may be wrong.
Sorry to lower the intellectual tone here...
 "I joined the Cult Of Boni/Get Off My Trolley!" |
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apl4eris
~ Abstract Brain ~
USA
4800 Posts |
Posted - 02/26/2004 : 15:47:37
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hahahaha! I love Marvin the Martian....what intellectual tone? 
I need me a space modulator, and how.
666 Dunkin' Donuts, a 20-inch veggie pizza from Gumby's, extra jalapenos on the side. And a case of Asahi Dry - |
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Cheeseman1000
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<
Iceland
8201 Posts |
Posted - 02/26/2004 : 15:51:57
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Phew, I thought someone was going to pick me up and say I'd quoted Marvin wrong or something. I'm not saying the forum is populated by high-end nerds, but c'mon, its not beyond the realms of feasibility.
Anyhoo, I don't know anything about astronomy or all this, but I like looking at pictures of big stuff, and it doesn't get much bigger than Hubble pictures, so Save Our Scope. SOS, catchy, see?
"I joined the Cult Of Boni/Get Off My Trolley!" |
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bumblebeeboy2
> Teenager of the Year <
United Kingdom
2638 Posts |
Posted - 02/26/2004 : 16:21:30
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http://www.savethehubble.org
"Join the Cult of Orange Cat / the more the better!"
The Shrine of the Sea Monkey!
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Sir Rockabye
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1158 Posts |
Posted - 02/26/2004 : 17:26:20
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Can someone explain, very simply please, what dark matter is? I don't know much about astronomy, but figure that if it would help "determine the fate of the universe", I should know something about it. Thanks.
"You start a conversation you can't even finish it.
You're talkin' a lot, but you're not sayin' anything."
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bumblebeeboy2
> Teenager of the Year <
United Kingdom
2638 Posts |
Posted - 02/26/2004 : 17:43:07
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quote:
Originally posted by Sir Rockabye
Can someone explain, very simply please, what dark matter is? I don't know much about astronomy, but figure that if it would help "determine the fate of the universe", I should know something about it. Thanks.
"You start a conversation you can't even finish it.
You're talkin' a lot, but you're not sayin' anything."
'The matter which is postulated to account for at least 90% of the mass of the Universe, but which has yet to be directly detected. The evidence for its existence comes mainly from observations of the dynamics of stars in galaxies and of galaxies in clusters of galaxies, from gravitational lensing and from cosmological models. Candidates for dark matter range from brown dwarfs and black holes to weakly-interacting elementary particles such as low-mass, fast-moving neutrinos or massive, slow-moving cold dark matter particles.'
"Join the Cult of Orange Cat / the more the better!"
The Shrine of the Sea Monkey!
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Sir Rockabye
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1158 Posts |
Posted - 02/26/2004 : 17:50:33
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Thanks bumblebee.
"You start a conversation you can't even finish it.
You're talkin' a lot, but you're not sayin' anything."
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bumblebeeboy2
> Teenager of the Year <
United Kingdom
2638 Posts |
Posted - 02/26/2004 : 18:00:53
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quote:
Originally posted by Sir Rockabye
Thanks bumblebee.
"You start a conversation you can't even finish it.
You're talkin' a lot, but you're not sayin' anything."
no problem, all off the top of my head, but 99.9% sure it's spot on...
"Join the Cult of Orange Cat / the more the better!"
The Shrine of the Sea Monkey!
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bedrock_barney
= Cult of Ray =
United Kingdom
871 Posts |
Posted - 02/27/2004 : 01:11:38
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quote:
Originally posted by bumblebeeboy2
quote:
Originally posted by Sir Rockabye
Can someone explain, very simply please, what dark matter is? I don't know much about astronomy, but figure that if it would help "determine the fate of the universe", I should know something about it. Thanks.
"You start a conversation you can't even finish it.
You're talkin' a lot, but you're not sayin' anything."
'The matter which is postulated to account for at least 90% of the mass of the Universe, but which has yet to be directly detected. The evidence for its existence comes mainly from observations of the dynamics of stars in galaxies and of galaxies in clusters of galaxies, from gravitational lensing and from cosmological models. Candidates for dark matter range from brown dwarfs and black holes to weakly-interacting elementary particles such as low-mass, fast-moving neutrinos or massive, slow-moving cold dark matter particles.'
"Join the Cult of Orange Cat / the more the better!"
The Shrine of the Sea Monkey!
you gotta watch out for those neutrinos - slippery suckers.
I think it's a real shame that we may have some downtime between the decommissioning of Hubble and the introduction of a new improved version. Most ordinary people see the pretty pictures and go wow (computer enhanced and coloured) but I'm fairly sure that the scientific community think that the Hubble is vital for ongoing research into life, the universe and everything.
 "The Pixies are reforming?? / I say bring back Abba, ahaaa!!!" |
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Shastasheen
- FB Fan -
62 Posts |
Posted - 03/03/2004 : 04:17:52
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THEY (BUSH AND CO.) DO NOT WANT US TO SEE AND KNOW WHAT IS REALLY IN THE COSMOS
GOOD TOPIC AND SIMPLE ANSWER....
All I Am Are My Thoughts |
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apl4eris
~ Abstract Brain ~
USA
4800 Posts |
Posted - 03/03/2004 : 08:12:36
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More pretty.
"Space is gonna do me good"
"Once I had a good fly"
"Levitate me!"
Corny, I know, but I just can't help it!
666 Dunkin' Donuts, a 20-inch veggie pizza from Gumby's, extra jalapenos on the side. And a case of Asahi Dry - |
Edited by - apl4eris on 03/03/2004 08:27:35 |
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ramona
"FB Quote Mistress"
USA
3988 Posts |
Posted - 03/03/2004 : 09:13:09
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Man, something about space totally freaks me out. It's so big and we are so little...I guess that it is just totally mind boggling to me.
It's sad that they are just going to let Hubble die - it took some amazing photos. Also, how much crap do we have floating around in space? It's not enough that we have to destroy our own environment, but now we are littering throughout the universe. Nice.
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"Music does not drag me down. Music lifts me up." - Frank Black |
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Mroocore
- FB Fan -
USA
177 Posts |
Posted - 03/03/2004 : 16:52:20
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unless someone can find a comercial use for the Hubble(HST), its fate may be sealed. it is tied to the pre-Bush space plans. now there is not enough resources to go around. what is the point in scientific research when you can simultaneously research military grade technology and conquer space.
i hope that somehow it can be saved. too expensive for a controlled de-orbit, its decaying orbit will cause the HST to burn up in the Earth's atmosphere. there is time, i beleive, i read the HST will be functional for 3 or 4 more years, and that its orbit will remain untill 2012. alot can change in 8 years.
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apl4eris
~ Abstract Brain ~
USA
4800 Posts |
Posted - 03/03/2004 : 22:21:25
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I share your concern about the space debris, ramona.
Not only that, but I wonder about the seeding of possible stowaway spores/bacterium/etc. on Mars and various asteroids (which one is it they are about to land on this time?). I realize it is an assumed risk, but I'm not seeing the forward thinking (but what do I know, lordy, heheh), regarding this and space debris, that could help to prevent some of the risk. There is a company (Nexia) producing a very strong space fabric (the spider dna spliced with goats, now plants, to make pulp that is made into super-strong filaments of silk-like material) -they are developing it to use in protection of the space station/astronaut suits/shuttle/other equipment, so why not create a means to collect some debris, like, i don't know, a big net? I know it's a stretch (no pun intended, heheh) but I think it could have potential.... Sorry, just tired and rambling here....oops!  I guess keeping things clean is just as important to the companies involved in space as it is to those here on Earth. Pah!
Good points, Mroocore.
I agree about the military technology research. As a matter of fact, I don't doubt that most of the efforts and tax monies are being narrowed and redirected to research whether a military installation can be implemented on Mars, not to mention the revivification of "Star Wars". Those boys are probably pretty eager to get that ball rolling again.
Where'd ya read up on the remaining functionality figures? That seems heartening. We get Astronomy magazine, but I haven't had a chance to scan it for info on Hubble yet. Gee, maybe I should stop hanging around here so much and actually do some reading. doo dee doo dee doo...
666 Dunkin' Donuts, a 20-inch veggie pizza from Gumby's, extra jalapenos on the side. And a case of Asahi Dry - |
Edited by - apl4eris on 03/03/2004 22:24:24 |
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Mroocore
- FB Fan -
USA
177 Posts |
Posted - 03/04/2004 : 14:50:03
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apl4eris,
i remember reading an article on boston.com(boston globe) probably around the time Bush annouced his redirection of the space program. after i googled for more information. i searched "Hubble decaying orbit", because its destruction was my fear. i have found related articles on physictoday.com and space.com, may be a paysite, i get it at work. it is cool. i am not sure if time frame is 100%, but i remember feeling that there was time.
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apl4eris
~ Abstract Brain ~
USA
4800 Posts |
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Mroocore
- FB Fan -
USA
177 Posts |
Posted - 06/02/2004 : 08:15:44
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robots to fix the HST? even if this is not the answer there are ways to save the HST.
http://space.com/news/hubble_okeefe_040601.html
plus bush would love an oppertunity to start training his robot armies.
 PENGU LIES |
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No more Hubble???
