"Alfred Montestruc" wrote:

:
:Rand Simberg wrote:
: On 5 Feb 2005 23:54:16 -0800, in a place far, far away, "Alfred
: Montestruc" made the phosphor on my monitor
: glow in such a way as to indicate that:
:
:
: Charles Buckley wrote:
: http://www.space.com/news/hubble_budget_050121.html
:
: "WASHINGTON - The White House has eliminated funding for a mission to
: service the Hubble Space Telescope from its 2006 budget request and
: directed NASA to focus solely on de-orbiting the popular spacecraft at
: the end of its life, according to government and industry sources."
:
: How about letting the Russians salvage it with our blessing and
: cooperation as long as we can pay-per-view use it?
:
: They have no capability to do that.
:
:Well that is obviously false. They can get a large spacecraft into
rbit more reliably than we can at this point in time, and the big
:issue with Hubble is her orbit is decaying.

Yes, but can they get a large spacecraft into THE RIGHT orbit?
Remember, the reason ISS is in the high inclination orbit that it is
in is so they can get to it. The reason for not using STS to service
HST is because the orbits of ISS and HST are so very different and a
vehicle going to one cannot simply go to the other if something goes
wrong on orbit.

:If they can get a large
:spacecraft to join up with Hubble they can boost her into a higher
rbit.

And perhaps if we all wave our hands hard enough the wind will push
HST up into a more stable orbit. You say the preceding as if it is a
simple thing.

:We supply the codes and any parts and supplies needed for
:Hubble in excahnge for time on the telescope.

And the Russians accept all future responsibility for where she comes
down if they fail? Unlikely.

:I can agree that the cost of the mission might not generate enough
:revenue for the Russians to be wiling to do that, but not have the
:capability? Get a grip dude!

I'd suggest you might need to check your grip, since you don't seem to
have a firm grasp of the facts.

--
"The odds get even - You blame the game.
The odds get even - The stakes are the same.
You bet your life."
-- "You Bet Your Life", Rush