Even though there has been a book written about extending the life of the Hubble telescope it looks like servicing won't be done. The final scheduled servicing to Hubble was to take place in 2006 but was canceled last year. All they can do is squeez out all they can from what is left. The main problems are the batteries and the gyroscopes. If they can extend the life of the batteries and find a way to use less gyroscopes to point the telescope they can effectively maximize all they can out of the Hubble before it dies. They are devising better use of the batteries and are working on using less gyroscopes. There are four gyroscopes remaining out of the original six. Right now they have to use three of them to point and one for a reserve. They will need to figure a way to point the telecope with less gyroscopes as the remaining start to fail. They believe they can keep it working until 2007 or 2008 in this way. This leaves five more years - maybe more? - to wait for NASA's next space telescope - the James Webb.
The James Webb is a 6.5 meter infrared telecope. It is not just optical. We will be able to see in the invisible infrared range of light the most distant parts of the universe.
I predict problems with the James Webb; if not in design then in financial problems that may delay it. Will we have the same safety issues when it comes time to repair the James Webb?
I know President Bush wants America to inspire its children by putting men on the moon again and and on Mars for the first time. I wonder, do we need this to inspire? I myself as an amateur astronomer am inspired by what can be seen by the Hubble. It's more practical to keep inspiring people with space telescopes than it would be to put men on Mars.
When Hubble has to come down instead of deorbitting it intact to put on display at the Smithsonian NASA wants to let it crash to the bottom of the sea. Too Bad!!!
NASA's ultimate goal though is a moon based telescope but this requires a crew on the moon to operate. They need a station on the moon before they can assemble a telescope there.
Either way telescopes in space or on the moon shall continue to inspire.
Will we have the same safety issues when it comes time to repair the James Webb?
The James Webb telescope will not be in low earth orbit where it can be repaired. "JWST will reside in an L2 Lissajous orbit, about 1.5 million km (1 million miles) from the Earth."
If it breaks and can not be repaired from ground control it's gone.
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