HELLFIRE https://www.theregister.com/2025/04/25/hubble_space_scope_35/ … Thanks to its stunning observations, few spacecraft have captured the public imagination quite like the Hubble. However, it is undeniably running on borrowed time, far exceeding its original design life. No servicing missions are scheduled, and orbital decay means the observatory will soon return to Earth one way or another. That said, never say never. Nominee for NASA Administrator, Jared Isaacman, has expressed an interest in the mounting of a mission to keep the Hubble Space Telescope going for a while longer. Such a change is not unprecedented – the final Space Shuttle servicing duty had originally been cancelled, before being reinstated following a change of NASA Administrator. It has been 35 years since the Hubble was deployed. Could another servicing expedition be mounted? Or the spacecraft boosted into a higher orbit? Technically, yes. However, two factors need to be considered. … After all, if recent budget proposals are approved, the agency might not even have sufficient funds to launch a new observatory that is already complete (the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope), let alone fund a whole new task to extend the life of one that was deployed when the White House nominee for NASA Administrator was seven years old. So, please raise a glass to 35 years since the Hubble Space Telescope was deployed. And perhaps, just perhaps, get ready for another toast when the final observation is made and the lights go out for the last time. Regards
HELLFIRE https://science.nasa.gov/mission/hubble/overview/hubbles-35th-anniversary/ – NASA’s Hubble 35 page, FWIW. Regards
Astyanax HELLFIRE if recent budget proposals are approved, the agency might not even have sufficient funds to launch a new observatory that is already complete Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, let alone fund a whole new task to extend the life of one that was deployed If the White House absolutely has to cut one of these programs they need to launch the Nancy Grace (“Tot Mom” 🙂) Telescope and should just deorbit HST. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/nasas-next-major-space-telescope-is-ready-to-launch-trump-wants-to-kill-it/
broknsymetry “This budget is like, ‘Here is a shit sandwich with no side of pickle.’ You don’t even get the plate!”