horray

oooh hubble is legal now *wink, wink*

Saving Hubble: The mission trained Astronauts VOLUNTEERED for.

If we can't keep it flying I thing it would be a very cool thing to bring it back and put it in the Smithsonian.

It won't happen of course, but the thing deserves that much, easily.

My first look at Hubble was back when they were showing illustrations of what the new Space Shuttle would look like.
In those early pictures it was always shown with the Hubble on it's manipulator arm.

I hope we can keep it flying, although it doesn't seem likely now that all out money has been pissed away by the current administration.

Oh well, Science is heretical anyway.

Its longevity is a statement of what is possible when you dream. No other single device or mission has done as much for our knowledge of space or captured the imagination of so many. Thank you Hubble, I hope you stay for at least another 18.

Looking out across the vastness of space--and seeing things as they were millions and billions of years ago--is the closest to time travel we'll ever get in my lifetime. Profound, and depressing, at the same time.

Now that it's legal.
google search "hubble nude"

You would think that our knowledge and experience working with Hubble would help us maintain and build better space crafts, yet they only seem to get worse...

To Hubble! A gentle and humbling reminder that we are nothing but a mote in God's eye. (copyright Niven and Pournelle 1974)

@Curves: and also when you don't give up - like strider says, they lined up to try and fix the Hubble and fortunately it worked.

when it was launched we thought by this time we'll all be cruisin around up there and that old thing will be like an 18 yr old swimsuit model: washed up.

Yay!

Now let's go FIX IT already.

It may not be able to drink, but can it at least vote?

@Geisrud: Too bad it can't vote on the NASA's budget.

@ideaman2020: But we the voter can call upon our representatives on behalf of Hubble. Is there specific legislation in process for this or part of NASAs regular budget? Whatever it is, I would like some Hubble oversight by non-NASA managers as they have a terrible record of mismanagement and this is to valueable an asset with such wonderful potential to screw up.

@ideaman2020:

Frontrunner for comment of the day...

I thought Bush destroyed this jesus-hating monster

@JacquesAss: Agreed.

@ideaman2020: Subtle and spot-on. Kudos.

I thought Hubble telescope took to the skies a lot later than 18 years ago (like before i was born). Goes to show how much i know about news in astronomy.

@strider_mt2k: "If we can't keep it flying I thing it would be a very cool thing to bring it back and put it in the Smithsonian."

I thought they already had a prototype of it on display. But the cost of bringing the real thing back to Earth would be "astronomical," more than it cost to put it in orbit.

@Curves: Sen. Barbara Mikulski lead the "lobbying effort" to fund a service mission to Hubble after the planned mission had been scrapped following the reorganization of the program after the Columbia disaster. "Non-essential" missions were scrapped, but "essential" seemed to mean politically expedient, with multiple missions to the International Space Station still on track (what is it that they use that for, anyway?), but not the single mission to Hubble. However, after a save-Hubble campaign, NASA reversed its decision.

@frigg: Indeed, you are right.

@frigg: how dumb is that.
Fixing Hubble is EXACTLY the kind of practice we need doing real world stuff in space.

Decommission it and point it earthward ... rename it Booble.

I'm sure it'll receive funding.

@strider_mt2k: Agreed.

I recall there were some technical and policy obstacles (e.g., because of the HST orbit, I don't believe a damaged shuttle would be able to dock at the ISS for safe harbor, a prerequisite for shuttle missions following Columbia). But with overwhelming interest (and a new chief administrator), they decided what the hell, replace the damn battery, what's one more lousy mission among friends?!

It's weird to think that telescopes have such a huge impact on humanity... but what other scientific instrument has generated as much universal interest or changed fundamental beliefs as much?

@strider_mt2k: "Saving Hubble: The mission trained Astronauts VOLUNTEERED for."

Hear, hear! One of the most amazing pieces of scientific equipment the human race has developed.

I actually remember this happening as I, as well, was born on this day. My 22nd b-day I was a Physics major at UCSB and I recall all my geeky friends following the Hubble...it didn't hurt that we had a world class physicist (who happened to work on the COBE satellite) as one of our teachers.

Even 18 years later those pictures are still awe-inspiring.

No beer yet, but it's more than welcome to join the army.

It's hard to believe that this magnificent piece of hardware was being designed in the early 60's before we even sent man into space.

Although some ground based technology surpasses Hubble, it still needs to stay up and running as it is providing very useful scientific data about the universe we all live in.

Happy Birthday Hubble!

@frigg:

The ISS issue is a big one, but they have devised plans for a rescue mission using a second shuttle. Crewmembers would be shuffled from the damaged vehicle into the rescuse one, likely two at a time.

@groovyone: Yes, but not in this case... As I understand it, due to unresolvable orbits, any mission to the Hubble would not be able to use the ISS for a rescue mission. The fact that a Hubble service mission would not be able to redirect to the ISS and be rescued if necessary was one of the main reasons it was originally cancelled. Only after receiving a waiver from this requirement was the mission reinstated.

Too bad he won't be up there much longer...ain't they replacing it with a better telescope?