Save the Hubble petition

[thatdarncat]

Here's a good story from the New Zealand Herald:

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?storyID=3549718&thesection=news&thesubsection=world

http://www.savethehubble.org/petition.jsp

Orbiting 350 miles above the Earth it has been a window on to a universe that had previously only existed in the wildest imaginings of science fiction.

Since it went into orbit in 1990, the Hubble Space Telescope has beamed back awesome images of some of the most spectacular moments in the history of the universe. It has given us a ring side seat at the creation of an entire galaxy 10 billion years ago to the technicolour birth - and death - of a star.

And yesterday it was doing it again.

The latest image taken from the Hubble takes us back almost to the beginnings of our universe's existence, towards a time that the Astronomer Royal Sir Martin Rees calls "the Dark Ages" - before there were any stars, and so no light.

But the latest images could be among the last. Last month Nasa said there will be no more servicing missions to Hubble, instead Nasa will focus on the International Space Station. The cries of despair that have greeted this decision are light years from the mood when it all started.

 

[trancejeremy]

Well, you know, they don't really have a choice. Maybe you missed it, but the Columbia crashed on reentry a while back (almost a year ago).

How exactly do you propose they service it? They can't fix the problem with the shuttle, and they no longer have enough shuttles to possibly be able to mount a rescue mission if this happens again.

The article completely avoids this issue, it's like most anti-american rants from the Independant. Whines about how the US is being mean. Yet why don't all the other countries whining about this get their own space program? Wait, you don't want to spend the money. And again, you're not risking your countries lives, are you?

 

[trancejeremy]

Well, like most stories from the Independant (the original source), it has an anti-American spin (they once claimed the US started Pearl Harbor).

Anyway, what the article avoids, is just how Hubble could be saved? Another Shuttle crash, or rather, another crew dead, and it will be the end of Nasa. Simple as that.

How can you ensure a safe trip up there? You can't. So it ain't going to happen. I find it very unlikely there will ever be another shuttle launch again, period. The ISS is pretty much finished as well, it will probably carry on half-heartedly with the Russian Soyuzes, but I believe they have stopped making them.

Nasa is regrouping right now, and it's going to take a while for them to come up with another launch vehicle. If this upsets you, then perhaps your own country should get their own space program (though then you wouldn't be able to whine about America's)

 

[thatdarncat]

Here's another article, this one from BBC online, about the importance of hubble to astronomy: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/712504.stm

trancejeremy: I'm actually not sure exactly how to respond to your comments. Perhaps you could quote what you see as "anti-american spin" from the article? And yes, my country has it's own space program. Perhaps you've heard of one of our contributions, the Canada Arm? We have taken part in missions with countries all over the world, not just with America. See http://www.space.gc.ca/asc/eng/about/csa_organization/csm_complete.asp you might just find it informative.

I'm not "whining" about america's space program - I'm offering my own opinion. No, I don't have a solution. I don't have a plan to save hubble. But I'm not an expert. I don't work for NASA. The Independant article takes NASA's official statement and makes a couple of points, both questioning that statement and explaining why loosing hubble would be such a blow.

 

[thatdarncat]

And again, you're not risking your countries lives, are you?

The fourth Canadian in space, Air Force Maj. Chris A. Hadfield, is not only the first Canadian Mission Specialist, he also is the first Canadian aboard space station Mir when he joins four crewmates on mission STS-74

Hey look, Canadians in space! Chris is from my home town, I've met him a few times. His mother is a friend of my Grandmother's.

It could have been him dead onboard Columbia.