The story of the Hubble Space Telescope and where we go ...

On August 11th, 2008 the Hubble Telescope hit the 100,000 orbit mark! Since its launch in April of 1990 the Hubble Space Telescope has been traveling at 5 miles per second with its on-board odometer racking up around 2.72 BILLION miles! That's about 5,700 trips to the moon and back! In October of this year the STS-125 crew will be be working on the 5th and final servicing mission to Hubble. There are currently 5 spacewalks scheduled for Atlantis where astronauts will install new equipment and repair broken instruments. Once this mission is complete, NASA's favorite telescope will need to live out the remainder of its days alone in space, with no chance of repair. This is the story of the Hubble Space Telescope, or HST.

[prem_tamilsiddha]

The creation of Hubble and those initial problems are the best science drama ever! Find a documentary about it, definitely worth it.

[spacevidcast]

While that is true, you'll note that SpaceVidcast is based in Minneapolis, MN... A lot like a certain show of yesteryear.

[BarneySaysHi]

Well, given the fact that it cost that much, I'd say it's actually worth it to retrieve it. After surviving that many orbits and years (and so many repairs) I think studying it back on earth on how it's condition is now might actually shed some light on how things survive that long in space.

[spacevidcast]

There is always the chance that an outside source will fund it and keep it going, or NASA will decide that it is worth the money and keep it going. We'll have a special on the Webb telescope soon so you can see why it is cooler though :)

[spacevidcast]

It is so high up that we don't need to worry about it for a long, long time. I believe the latest estimates are 2032 at the soonest. From there we can either retrieve the system in LEO or drop in in the ocean with a controlled burn like MIR. Not really a big deal, but once the orbit deteriorates enough it won't be able to perform its main task anymore

[spacevidcast]

Plans can always change, and there was a mission on the table to retrieve the Hubble. At half a BILLION dollars per shuttle mission, I think they decided it simply wasn't worth the money to try and save it.

This of course can always change.

[lvecsey]

hubble was designed to be serviced by the shuttle so their futures are inextricably linked. its a good thing its being replaced with a different yet overall more capable system

[roadrodent]

According to the NASA vid they are installing a capture unit on Hubble with an eye towards a future mission (Next transport system) to retrieve and return it to Earth. Be a heck of a museum display. Have the real thing to show.

[inthefade]

with hubble, rationing and sharing access is difficult, because so many different astronomers want to have access.

Having double the access would be great.

I'm sure it makes sense to ditch hubble, but it's sad.

[spacevidcast]

Same way you dock with an International Space Station traveling at 17, 500 MPH...

Well, a little different, actually ;)

[azballa]

I know I would pay money to go see it in Florida or Texas.

[Tampajoe]

Here's a crazy idea.. give the fuel tanks of the next one (that we're gonna pay for) a refill valve.

Crazy I know.

[UnconcernedCitizen]

I had heard that the Grays were using it for a milkshake maker.

[lamiakinda]

I need someone to help me to writ the report because the reporter is speaking quickly and I couldn't catch every word, please.

[kwlboy]

yea u gotta be traveling at five miles per second and you wudnt kno cuz space is so vast and large that an objest like the earth sun or moon wud be to far away to immediately register that you were moving that fast . i wonder how much the new telescope costs

[odeurdecochon]

Has anyone seen, or taken photos from earth (or from Hubble), that shows any equipment left behind by man on the moon? If so, where can these images be found and viewed? For example, can one see the lunar rover left behind? Just curious...

[DarkAlex]

Um, HELLO it burns up while re-entering the atmosphere.

[inthefade]

I wonder why it is not financially viable to keep nudging it into a higher orbit? Wouldn't TWO telescopes be better than one?

[granddad]

Pity Hubble couldn't be put in a higher orbit.... some kind of moth ball kit.... and if space could be accessed cheaply in the future... this could be used as a training academic asset for some university, small government or other private venture. Getting access to cutting edge telescopes is a chore.

[cubswin]

Think if they dropped the main mirror....thats a lot of bad luck