The future of the Hubble Space Telescope is in doubt after the White House refused money for a rescue plan, US media has reported. US space agency Nasa will announce the decision in February, ending plans to send a human or a robot repairman, the Washington Post reported. The service cost was expected to top $1bn, but has been cut from the federal budget request, sources told the paper. For 15 years Hubble has captured some of the most profound images of space. Previous services It was designed to be visited periodically by astronauts who would perform repairs and install new equipment. Astronauts made servicing visits to the telescope in 1993, 1997, 1991 and 2002, with a final servicing mission - now cancelled - due for 2006. Despite the funding cut, the telescope is not yet being shut down - just allowed to operate normally until wear and tear take their toll. Its original mission was supposed to last 15 years, and was extended to 20 years, with a projected end date of 2010. NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!! That's the full story, but here's the link anyway
Are we gonna get a replacement? Cos a lot of the space images I've seen comes from the Hubble Telescope.
James Webb Space Telescope is supposed to be replacing the Hubble, but that's scheduled for 2011 last time I checked. NASA predicts that without this years scheduled service there is s 50/50 chance that Hubble will last until 2007. So even IF it lasts that long, we are looking at 4+ years until we get more amazing pictures from space
^ Yup to that ^ Can't really say this wasn't expected. US is too damn busy funding wars & strange missions to mars And around 2007 Lofar will probably start bringing in interesting pictures. Not an optical telescope, but radio can be pretty cool too (Dutchies here have a look at lofar.nl, more info there)
