STS 125 Updates

[Chipstone306]

Its Hubble time!
this has got to be the most intensive and long awaited mission

 

[Missioncmdr]

I think that the Hubble Space Telescope is probably one of the best things to come out of the Space Shuttle program. Some of the pictures it brought back were truly priceless.

 

[henrik]

I'd have to agree. The scientific value of it might not always be as high as the more specialized satellites and telescopes that take pictures outside the human vision, but I firmly believe that the space program needs good PR to keep it alive as well and I think the HST has been in the same categore with the moon landings in keeping the public interest alive.

As they say in The Right Stuff: No bucks, no Buck Rogers.

 

[Chipstone306]

Although Kennedy's processing crews will be off this weekend to celebrate the Independence Day holiday, work has progressed on both Atlantis and Endeavour.

Technicians have completed installation of space shuttle main engine dome heat shields as well as inspections to the reinforced carbon-carbon panels.

In bay 2 of Kennedy's Orbiter Processing Facility, shuttle Endeavour is being prepared for flight.

Endeavour will stand ready on Launch Pad 39B to be used for a rescue mission in the unlikely event Atlantis has an emergency in space. The orbiter will then move to pad 39A for the STS-126 mission after Atlantis has returned.

This is the 17th time in NASA history that two spacecraft are being readied for launch at the same time.

Meanwhile at Launch Pad 39A, workers installed anchors and plates to both the east and west walls which support the bricks above the lintel, prior to brick removal and replacement.

During Discovery's launch on May 31, damage occurred on a 100’ X 20’ section of the east wall of the north flame trench. Broken sections of the flame trench wall were scattered from the trench to the pad perimeter fence.

The pad is expected to be repaired by Atlantis' STS-125 targeted launch date on Oct. 8.

At NASA's Johnson Space Flight Center in Houston, STS-125 astronauts wrapped up a week of training and will have a holiday weekend off with family and friends.

 

[Pilot7893]

Hopefully it will be left up in orbit and be turned into a museum

 

[Master of Blades]

Hubble? Nah, wouldn't work... It would deorbit after a while due to drag, thus needing reboosts... And I have difficulties seeing anyone scheduling reboost flights to a dead telescope at the moment... NASA for once would never do it.

 

[SlyCoopersButt]

I read on space.com that a docking couple of some sort was going to be added so that once it was retired it could be de-orbited by another vehicle. So I don't think they'll keep it as a museum peice as many would hope unless the extremely unlikely event occurs that they want to service it yet again.

 

[Zatnikitelman]

Frankly I wish some privateer would buy it. SpaceX seems the most logical choice given their upcomming manned infrastructure, but I just can't see Mr. Musk concentrating on what is purly a scientific vehicle. Unless he turned it around to Earth...

 

[SlyCoopersButt]

Buying it would be a brilliant thing for anyone who could afford it in commercial space industry who could keep it up. NASA could sell lots of things when they are done with them. It would be a good thing to share their technology with the public in that way more often.

 

[Missioncmdr]

I thought that disused NASA equipment automatically changes ownership to the National Air & Space Museum.

 

[Andy44]

While it's true it will eventually re-enter, there's no danger of that for quite some time, as Hubble operates at a very high altitude, about as high as the shuttle can reach, in fact. This last repair mission will install hardware to allow for future controlled de-orbit.

As for selling it to a private interest, I don't see that happening. This would require science customers to pay for operating it without government subsidy, which is a drug that scientists and universities are addicted to in this age. And when would NASA sell it off? Before it needs more repairs, or after? And while it's one thing to operate a functioning satellite that is already in orbit, it's a whole new boatload of money to pay somebody like SpaceX, etc. to fly another repair mission.

So this is it: Hubble gets one last repair and when it breaks again, it stays broke until it hits the ocean.

 

[Master of Blades]

How large orbit must one have to not get affected by drag? (If it's possible not to)

 

[pete.dakota]

How large orbit must one have to not get affected by drag? (If it's possible not to)

Anything over 800km would take several centuries to de-orbit. Though there are atmospheric particles as far up as 10,000km.