Monisha Ravisetti is Space.com's Astronomy Editor. She covers black holes, star explosions, gravitational waves, exoplanet discoveries and other enigmas hidden across the fabric of space and time. Previously, she was a science writer at CNET, and before that, reported for The Academic Times.
orbit. It's sitting about 320 miles above our planet right now, exposed to solar radiation, freezing temperatures andThirty-four years under that kind of stress takes its toll. Just earlier this week , NASA announced one of the's three remaining gyroscopes — which help scientists make sure the craft is pointing in the correct direction — has failed.
Or, scientists can boost Hubble to a higher orbit where it can rest for a while — potentially allowing for time to decide if a more in-depth servicing mission can be done,for private companies to develop ideas about how to go with the Hubble boosting route. The idea was indeed pondered and discussed at length but, in short, NASA eventually didn't decide to go for it.
There has been quite a bit of back and forth lately between Isaacman, space experts, journalists, and even the public when it comes to servicing Hubble privately. A recentinvestigation that attained internal NASA emails through a Freedom of Information Act request sparked debate, for instance, as it revealed a variety of reactions NASA officials had to the idea. Isaacman himself has also, if the plan didn't pan out, politics could be to blame, as the NPR article also touches on.
In terms of those risks, Clampin explained what that aforementioned feasibility study found, including premature loss of science and some technology challenges. It's possible, Clampin said, that a mission like this could contaminate the telescope's mirror. Because Hubble is an ultraviolet optical telescope, even small amounts of volatiles can get on the mirror and threaten the observatory's sensitivity.
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