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Old August 16th 03, 06:05 PM
Explorer8939
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Default Panel Identifies Three Options For Space Telescope Transition

The most likely scenario is that Servicing Mission 5 will carry some
sort of attitude control unit that also incorporates an end-of-life
de-orbit capability, so that Hubble can be used beyond its nominal
lifetime, but still have a controlled de-orbit capability.

What I am wondering is how Congress/CAIB will allow Shuttle to fly to
Hubble, given that a major malfunction, such as what happened with
STS-107, would prove fatal to the Shuttle crew (unlike ISS missions,
there is no place to stay at Hubble. I would imagine that this would
lead to a requirement to have a 2nd Shuttle on short term standby at
the Cape, ready to launch if there is a tile/leading edge panel
problem with the 1st shuttle, but this seems like something out of
Armageddon.