Hubble is back, and it's seeing fine [ignore the shilling for Mikulski]

Nature 'blogs ^ | Wednesday, September 9, 2009 | Mark Peplow

[SunkenCiv]

...the iconic orbiting observatory is working just fine after its May upgrade which saw it get new batteries, gyroscopes and and a thorough overhaul of its instruments. It also got a new camera and a new spectrograph from the astronauts who spent five days under Hubble's hood. The upgrade, almost certain to be Hubble's last, should keep it producing tip-top images until 2014... Ed Weiler, associate administrator for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, said that the telescope is "significantly more powerful than ever, well-equipped to last into the next decade."

According to NASA, future observations will range from "studying the population of Kuiper Belt objects at the fringe of our solar system to surveying the birth of planets around other stars and probing the composition and structure of extrasolar planet atmospheres."

[SunkenCiv]

NASA -- Hubble ERO Images

[SunkenCiv]

In before the inevitable 'waste of money' trolls. Added a "subscribe" link, which simplifies adding xplanets to your FR "My Comments" screen etc.

· join · view topics · view or post blog · bookmark · post new topic · subscribe ·

Google news searches: exoplanet · exosolar · extrasolar ·

[BGHater]

Don't wanna crash the thread, but since it's NASA related, I came across this Flash Video about the ISS. Pretty cool.

ISS Timeline

[HangnJudge]

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks BGHater!

Okay, admit it, you *loved* crashin’ the thread. ;’)

[Army Air Corps]

That is breathtakingly surreal. Like gossamer. Delicate, beautiful gossamer.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks HangnJudge!

[Drango]

Too awesome for words.

[TChad]

Spectacular.

[LiberConservative]

Hubble still ROCKS!!!!!!!!

[SunkenCiv]

Definitely!

[tlb]

Had it been my call I wouldn’t have risked the astronauts. Hubble had already given us well beyond our moneys worth, and now other orbiting observatories such as the Webb are carrying the main science burden.

That being said, the rescue mission having occurred anyway I’m very pleased we will get several more years of Hubble pictures. Especially as it seems this isn’t the sort of administration now that would fund a proper replacement.

[SunkenCiv]

Here's what NASA sez about the Web:

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) will be a large infrared telescope with a 6.5-meter primary mirror. Launch is planned for 2014.

The Hubble is a one of a kind, and will be for a good while. It'll never be replaced, because no one will ever want to spend the money again.

[SunkenCiv]

Heh...

Astronomy Picture Of The YEAR!
NASA - Hubble | 9-10-09 | Credit: NASA, ESA, and the Hubble SM4 ERO Team
Posted on 09/10/2009 3:51:42 AM PDT by paul in cape
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2336207/posts

[neverdem]

Hubble Opens New Eyes on the Universe

lotsa pics

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks for the link neverdem.