Hubble Question...

With or without any future service the Hubble will some day go offline.
There have been a lot of ideas floating around as to what to do then.
I was wondering if it could be possible to boost it to a LaGrange Point,
rather than de-orbit it? Is an earth-moon point stable? I know the
earth-sun point can be used as the SOHO satellite is there, but it
would require a lot more fuel to reach. Apparently, recovery of the
Hubble for placement in the Smithsonian is not possible, so I wanted
to put an alternative idea out for discussion.
Bruce

"Bruce Kille" wrote in news:xx9Tb.14283$Vg3.1349
@bignews5.bellsouth.net:

With or without any future service the Hubble will some day go offline.
There have been a lot of ideas floating around as to what to do then.
I was wondering if it could be possible to boost it to a LaGrange Point,
rather than de-orbit it? Is an earth-moon point stable?

In theory, the L4/L5 points are stable, but in the Earth/moon system, all
five points are unstable due to the eccentricity of the moon's orbit and
the influence of the sun.

I know the
earth-sun point can be used as the SOHO satellite is there, but it
would require a lot more fuel to reach.

Not *a lot* more - both require a delta-V near escape velocity, or around 3
km/s.

The problem with putting HST outside low Earth orbit is that its pointing
system relies on geomagnetic torquers to desaturate its reaction wheels.
Move HST out of the Earth's magnetic field, and you've got to find some
other way to do that. Also, HST's comm system relies on TDRS, and accessing
TDRS from well outside GEO is questionable at best.

Apparently, recovery of the
Hubble for placement in the Smithsonian is not possible, so I wanted
to put an alternative idea out for discussion.

Recovery of Hubble remains technically possible, but NASA has ground-ruled
it out for safety reasons.

"Jorge R. Frank" wrote in message
...
"Bruce Kille" wrote in news:xx9Tb.14283$Vg3.1349
@bignews5.bellsouth.net:

With or without any future service the Hubble will some day go offline.
There have been a lot of ideas floating around as to what to do then.
I was wondering if it could be possible to boost it to a LaGrange Point,
rather than de-orbit it? Is an earth-moon point stable?

In theory, the L4/L5 points are stable, but in the Earth/moon system, all
five points are unstable due to the eccentricity of the moon's orbit and
the influence of the sun.

I know the
earth-sun point can be used as the SOHO satellite is there, but it
would require a lot more fuel to reach.

Not *a lot* more - both require a delta-V near escape velocity, or around
3
km/s.

The problem with putting HST outside low Earth orbit is that its pointing
system relies on geomagnetic torquers to desaturate its reaction wheels.
Move HST out of the Earth's magnetic field, and you've got to find some
other way to do that. Also, HST's comm system relies on TDRS, and
accessing
TDRS from well outside GEO is questionable at best.

Apparently, recovery of the
Hubble for placement in the Smithsonian is not possible, so I wanted
to put an alternative idea out for discussion.

Recovery of Hubble remains technically possible, but NASA has ground-ruled
it out for safety reasons.

How about attaching it to the ISS?
73 Roger ZR3RC

How about attaching it to the ISS?

But that would mean it would still burn up when we finally
ditch that boondoggle called the ISS.
Clear, Dark, Steady Skies!
(And considerate neighbors!!!)

How about attaching it to the ISS?

But that would mean it would still burn up when we finally
ditch that boondoggle called the ISS.
Clear, Dark, Steady Skies!
(And considerate neighbors!!!)

How about attaching it to the ISS?

But that would mean it would still burn up when we finally
ditch that boondoggle called the ISS.
Clear, Dark, Steady Skies!
(And considerate neighbors!!!)

That's the idea I've been pushing, not only could it be serviced but also
controled from the ISS, have it maybe about a mile from it in same orbit.


--
"In this universe the night was falling,the shadows were lengthening
towards an east that would not know another dawn.
But elsewhere the stars were still young and the light of morning
lingered: and along the path he once had followed, man would one day go
again."

Arthur C. Clarke, The City & The Stars

SIAR
www.starlords.org
Telescope Buyers FAQ
http://home.inreach.com/starlord
World of Dahlias Slideshowv1.0 $10.00
for Windows machines. Email:



"Roger Conroy" wrote in message
...

..

How about attaching it to the ISS?
73 Roger ZR3RC




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Do you have any idea of what it would take to make such a significant shift
in orbits?



"Starlord" wrote in message
...
That's the idea I've been pushing, not only could it be serviced but also
controled from the ISS, have it maybe about a mile from it in same orbit.


--
"In this universe the night was falling,the shadows were lengthening
towards an east that would not know another dawn.
But elsewhere the stars were still young and the light of morning
lingered: and along the path he once had followed, man would one day go
again."

Arthur C. Clarke, The City & The Stars

SIAR
www.starlords.org
Telescope Buyers FAQ
http://home.inreach.com/starlord
World of Dahlias Slideshowv1.0 $10.00
for Windows machines. Email:



"Roger Conroy" wrote in message
...

.

How about attaching it to the ISS?
73 Roger ZR3RC




---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.573 / Virus Database: 363 - Release Date: 1/28/04

Do you have any idea of what it would take to make such a significant shift
in orbits?



"Starlord" wrote in message
...
That's the idea I've been pushing, not only could it be serviced but also
controled from the ISS, have it maybe about a mile from it in same orbit.


--
"In this universe the night was falling,the shadows were lengthening
towards an east that would not know another dawn.
But elsewhere the stars were still young and the light of morning
lingered: and along the path he once had followed, man would one day go
again."

Arthur C. Clarke, The City & The Stars

SIAR
www.starlords.org
Telescope Buyers FAQ
http://home.inreach.com/starlord
World of Dahlias Slideshowv1.0 $10.00
for Windows machines. Email:



"Roger Conroy" wrote in message
...

.

How about attaching it to the ISS?
73 Roger ZR3RC




---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.573 / Virus Database: 363 - Release Date: 1/28/04

Do you have any idea of what it would take to make such a significant shift
in orbits?



"Starlord" wrote in message
...
That's the idea I've been pushing, not only could it be serviced but also
controled from the ISS, have it maybe about a mile from it in same orbit.


--
"In this universe the night was falling,the shadows were lengthening
towards an east that would not know another dawn.
But elsewhere the stars were still young and the light of morning
lingered: and along the path he once had followed, man would one day go
again."

Arthur C. Clarke, The City & The Stars

SIAR
www.starlords.org
Telescope Buyers FAQ
http://home.inreach.com/starlord
World of Dahlias Slideshowv1.0 $10.00
for Windows machines. Email:



"Roger Conroy" wrote in message
...

.

How about attaching it to the ISS?
73 Roger ZR3RC




---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
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