NASA Pics Celebrate Hubble's 18th Birthday, Space Telescope Still Can't Drink Beer - Gizmodo Comments

NASA Pics Celebrate Hubble's 18th Birthday, Space Telescope Still Can't Drink Beer

Tomahawk214 — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 19:48:13 EDT

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

Tomahawk214

NASA Pics Celebrate Hubble's 18th Birthday, Space Telescope Still Can't Drink Beer

frigg — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 18:36:16 EDT

@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.

frigg

NASA Pics Celebrate Hubble's 18th Birthday, Space Telescope Still Can't Drink Beer

groovyone — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 16:49:03 EDT

@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

NASA Pics Celebrate Hubble's 18th Birthday, Space Telescope Still Can't Drink Beer

dirk1965 — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 14:56:54 EDT

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!

dirk1965

NASA Pics Celebrate Hubble's 18th Birthday, Space Telescope Still Can't Drink Beer

misterwho — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 14:03:31 EDT

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

misterwho

NASA Pics Celebrate Hubble's 18th Birthday, Space Telescope Still Can't Drink Beer

ericjlarson — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 13:23:28 EDT

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

ericjlarson

NASA Pics Celebrate Hubble's 18th Birthday, Space Telescope Still Can't Drink Beer

ninjamurf — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 12:51:12 EDT

@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.

ninjamurf

NASA Pics Celebrate Hubble's 18th Birthday, Space Telescope Still Can't Drink Beer

frigg — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 12:45:41 EDT

@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?

frigg

NASA Pics Celebrate Hubble's 18th Birthday, Space Telescope Still Can't Drink Beer

aelver — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 11:24:59 EDT

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

I'm sure it'll receive funding.

aelver

NASA Pics Celebrate Hubble's 18th Birthday, Space Telescope Still Can't Drink Beer

strider_mt2k — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 10:44:32 EDT

@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.

strider_mt2k

NASA Pics Celebrate Hubble's 18th Birthday, Space Telescope Still Can't Drink Beer

frigg — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 10:27:25 EDT

@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

NASA Pics Celebrate Hubble's 18th Birthday, Space Telescope Still Can't Drink Beer

frigg — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 10:17:59 EDT

@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.

frigg

NASA Pics Celebrate Hubble's 18th Birthday, Space Telescope Still Can't Drink Beer

P3nnst8r has returned on the Graces of Brian Ashcraft — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 09:50:35 EDT

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.

P3nnst8r has returned on the Graces of Brian Ashcraft

NASA Pics Celebrate Hubble's 18th Birthday, Space Telescope Still Can't Drink Beer

strider_mt2k — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 09:42:24 EDT

@JacquesAss: Agreed.

@ideaman2020: Subtle and spot-on. Kudos.

strider_mt2k

NASA Pics Celebrate Hubble's 18th Birthday, Space Telescope Still Can't Drink Beer

liveinvt — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 09:40:34 EDT

I thought Bush destroyed this jesus-hating monster

liveinvt

NASA Pics Celebrate Hubble's 18th Birthday, Space Telescope Still Can't Drink Beer

JacquesAss — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 09:23:11 EDT

@ideaman2020:

Frontrunner for comment of the day...

JacquesAss

NASA Pics Celebrate Hubble's 18th Birthday, Space Telescope Still Can't Drink Beer

Curves — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 09:18:34 EDT

@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.

Curves

NASA Pics Celebrate Hubble's 18th Birthday, Space Telescope Still Can't Drink Beer

ideaman2020 — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 09:05:56 EDT

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

ideaman2020

NASA Pics Celebrate Hubble's 18th Birthday, Space Telescope Still Can't Drink Beer

Geisrud — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 08:52:15 EDT

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

Geisrud

NASA Pics Celebrate Hubble's 18th Birthday, Space Telescope Still Can't Drink Beer

IrisMR — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 08:44:06 EDT

Yay!

Now let's go FIX IT already.

IrisMR

NASA Pics Celebrate Hubble's 18th Birthday, Space Telescope Still Can't Drink Beer

Arelar — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 08:38:00 EDT

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.

Arelar

NASA Pics Celebrate Hubble's 18th Birthday, Space Telescope Still Can't Drink Beer

Step666 — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 08:27:30 EDT

@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.

Step666

NASA Pics Celebrate Hubble's 18th Birthday, Space Telescope Still Can't Drink Beer

BasicBlack — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 08:23:27 EDT

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

BasicBlack

NASA Pics Celebrate Hubble's 18th Birthday, Space Telescope Still Can't Drink Beer

blackwand — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 08:13:16 EDT

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...

blackwand

NASA Pics Celebrate Hubble's 18th Birthday, Space Telescope Still Can't Drink Beer

Buttertoad — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 08:07:52 EDT

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

Buttertoad

NASA Pics Celebrate Hubble's 18th Birthday, Space Telescope Still Can't Drink Beer

scarbrtj — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 07:51:01 EDT

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.

scarbrtj

NASA Pics Celebrate Hubble's 18th Birthday, Space Telescope Still Can't Drink Beer

Curves — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 07:46:34 EDT

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.

Curves

NASA Pics Celebrate Hubble's 18th Birthday, Space Telescope Still Can't Drink Beer

strider_mt2k — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 07:41:51 EDT

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.

strider_mt2k

NASA Pics Celebrate Hubble's 18th Birthday, Space Telescope Still Can't Drink Beer

shan6 — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 07:41:49 EDT

oooh hubble is legal now *wink, wink*

shan6

NASA Pics Celebrate Hubble's 18th Birthday, Space Telescope Still Can't Drink Beer

dorylomorphs — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 07:34:27 EDT

horray

dorylomorphs