Major Hubble Problem!!!

[spaceboy7441]

Here is a public article from NSF.
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2008/09/hubble-control-system-failure-threatens-sts-125-launch-date/

[STS78MEMBER]

Wow, what a serious issue.  I hope they dn't delay the launche.

[Moonwalker]

That's really bad news. Hubble always was a troublemaker...

[USA~Driver]

Note to NASA:

Don't waste Hubble. Instead of a Last service mission, You should go capture her and bring it home to the Smithsonian where it belongs. Just sayin.

[uri_ba]

i'm with Driver,
if they decide she can't be fixed, bring her home.

[STS78MEMBER]

No question, the Hubble has always been a troublemaker, I just hate it when mission have to be postponed.
Driver, that is a good idea and it would be great if they did eventually did bring Hubble back to Earth. 

[pheberer]

That's really bad news. Hubble always was a troublemaker...

This may be true (Hubble's troubles - I know of a few) but in spite of these troubles it has shown the resolve and ingenuity of the NASA Shuttle group.  The Hubble has shown us the Universe to its best so far....  The crews of the shuttle has show: men/women belong in space!   

You may choose to put the Hubble's troubles in the lime light but it's success and only with NASA's ingenuity and resolve is the Hubble, IMHO, one of our greatest success.

Here! Here! NASA.

Peter H.

Peter H.


 

[desktopsimmer]

Confirmed, it's going to be postponed until February 2009

I think there is a problem of weight distribution when returning an item of that size. Before someone says LDEF was big, but remember that was designed to be returned, Hubble, sadly isn't. Might be do-able, but I can't see NASA retrieving something, other the risk of loss of life.

If the B-side test fail, and there's a requirement that further parts may need replacing, I can see NASA rethinking about the service mission. Probably will still go ahead IMHO, but with today's Financial events in the USA, NASA purse string are going to be tight.

[uri_ba]

HST was planned to be retrieved.
that plan was abandoned after STS-107.

[desktopsimmer]

Ah, I read somewhere that it could not be brought back, as the combined Centre of Gravity of the shuttle and Hubble is knocked to the back of the shuttle, which would mean a faster landing then the normal ~200Kts.

[spaceboy7441]

Here I got a good answer from Nasaspaceflight.com (L2 Q&A with HST manager) that should wrap this part of it up.

        Quote from: Spaceboy7441

            Do you think if the shuttle extension to 2015 is approved that they just might bring Hubble down and fix it completely and send her back up. I know there supposed to have a new telescope but it would be cool to have 2.

            Thanks

        Quote from: JSC Phil

        The extension would be solely based on ISS access. So no.
     
  Quote from: SM4_Engineer

The Hubble envelope has been modified such that it won't fit into an Shuttle for a return. I also have heard that "they" aren't keen on landing with something as heavy as Hubble in the payload bay (but I don't do shuttle stuff...).

[STS78MEMBER]

Very interesting to read their comments regarding Hubble.  Too bad they can't bring it back to Earth.

Here I got a good answer from Nasaspaceflight.com (L2 Q&A with HST manager) that should wrap this part of it up.

        Quote from: Spaceboy7441

            Do you think if the shuttle extension to 2015 is approved that they just might bring Hubble down and fix it completely and send her back up. I know there supposed to have a new telescope but it would be cool to have 2.

            Thanks

        Quote from: JSC Phil

        The extension would be solely based on ISS access. So no.
     
  Quote from: SM4_Engineer

The Hubble envelope has been modified such that it won't fit into an Shuttle for a return. I also have heard that "they" aren't keen on landing with something as heavy as Hubble in the payload bay (but I don't do shuttle stuff...).

[desktopsimmer]

I think it became impossible after they updated the Solar cells, as the new ones don't rotate away like the original ones, they just fold in half. Also I think it is 'fatter' now after the last upgrade.

[Chris Bergin]

Thanks for linking my article (was a bit rushed as it was breaking news at the time). Written two additional articles since then.

To sum up:

They'll be ready to complete the transition to Side B on HST next week.
Atlantis will rollback Pad 39A, back to the VAB, on Oct 20 (currently)
Endeavour will then rollback from 39B, to the fork in the crawlerway, and then roll forward to take up residence at 39A for a NET (No Earlier Than) Nov. 14 STS-126 launch.

Outlook at present:

STS-119 will be bumped from Feb.
STS-125 will take up the STS-119 window.
Discovery will become the LON (Launch On Need) vehicle STS-401 (STS-400 is reserved for Endeavour).
STS-119 will launch in March.

The other option is to launch Discovery in her nominal STS-119 window in Feb, with STS-125 then slipping to April, with Endeavour returning as LON (STS-400). Soyuz and Solar Beta Angle cut out considerations in play for that scenario.

As John Young would say, it's going to get "sporty"