Henry Spencer wrote:
In article .com,
Alfred Montestruc wrote:
Well that is obviously false. They can get a large spacecraft into
orbit more reliably than we can at this point in time...

Into *some* orbits, not including the one Hubble is in.

...and the big issue with Hubble is her orbit is decaying.

Actually, no. That will be a long-term issue. The short-term issue
is
that her gyros are dying and her batteries are aging. The
medium-term
issue is that a couple of nice new instruments are sitting on the
ground
waiting to go into her.


Ok I can see that is something of a show stopper if the issue is
replacement parts, batteries and new instruments.

How about the getting a consordium of Russians and ESA, Russian
equipment from the French pad in South American right by the Equator?

From there a manned russian mission could get to the right orbit, and I
do not think modification of the pad for a russian booster will be all
that difficult.

As to more fuel, they can launch a manned ship and a smaller unmanned
ship with extra fuel. Rigging up a fuel x-fer system should not be
that bad.


If they can get a large spacecraft to join up with Hubble...

They can't. Not in that orbit. And their only operational manned
spacecraft has nearly zero cargo capacity.

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

Uh, who *operates* it? This isn't just a matter of "supplying
codes".
Hubble is a complex one-of-a-kind device that needs a sizable staff
of
specially trained people; the only such staff in existence is at
STScI.
Anyone else would need years, and extensive help from STScI, to come
up
to speed enough to operate Hubble effectively.

Fine, let the US continue to operate it, but Russians get residuals
from the salvage. I am just trying to find a way to fund it. Russians
work cheaper and perhaps the income from renting out Hubble might be
enough to pay for it.



Once the Russians have her in a higher stable orbit, they then put
her
time of use up for sale on a pay-per-view basis.

Do remember that at present, the US government is forbidden by law to
buy
services from Russia.

Buying service is not the same as allowing salvage, and IIRC
universities and private firms are allowed to buy services from Russian
corporations (which is the case in this instince) or the Russian
government.

Universities can then divert grant money (public or private) to pay for
astronomy on Hubble.