Hubble will die a quick death thanks to Bush

[ringmastery]

This pisses me off. They are scrapping plans to do real science NOW for this Moon/Mars thing that is probably fiscal fantasy land. I don't expect it to get any funding in congress.

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/7729894.htm

WASHINGTON - The Hubble Space Telescope will be allowed to degrade and eventually become useless, as NASA changes focus to President Bush's plans to send humans to the moon, Mars and beyond, officials said.

NASA canceled all space shuttle servicing missions to the Hubble, which has revolutionized the study of astronomy with its striking images of the universe.

John Grunsfeld, NASA's chief scientist, said Friday that NASA administrator Sean O'Keefe made the decision to cancel the fifth space shuttle service mission to the Hubble when it became clear there was not enough time to conduct it before the shuttle is retired. The servicing mission was considered essential to enable the orbiting telescope to continue to operate.

"This is a sad day," said Grunsfeld, but he said the decision "is the best thing for the space community."

[neverforget]

1. Science? The right wing hates science because

it questions their belief system and it also makes them think which causes them painful headaches. :evilgrin:

[Dimsdale]

2. Chimpy, primate of vision.

Who's to question the vision of Our Leader? He's been "Churchillian" with his "oratory" on the invasion of Iraq and "Kennedyesque" with his announcement of the latest BushCo folly, moon bases and a manned mission to Mars.
Perhaps we can have a handful of the sons of bitches to whom Dimson has handed huge tax breaks ante up some serious coin to keep Hubble operational. Seriously, without the bogus war on Iraq and the unnecessary largesse to the wealthy, we'd have the money. And thousands killed and maimed as result of BushCo's sick policies would still be leading normal lives.

[Ready4Change]

3. NASA should declare Hubble "abandoned."

That way, if some other entity wishes to take control of it (and become responsible for eventually safely controlling its de-orbit) they can.

That would allow NASA to more quickly free up financial resources, promote private industry to get involved in space, and maybe preserve the means of scientific research which Bush has just pretty much ordered NASA to abandon.

[salinen]

4. "Bush will die a quick death thanks to Hubble"

Who's Hubble? I like him already. Oh, darn dyslexia.

[w4rma]

5. Another day, another insane irrepairable action by *. (n/t)

[mike1963]

6. But everyone with a brain knows his "vision" is economically disastrous

right now. I'm all for space exploration, but wouldn't it be a little less insane to wait til we can actually afford it? Bush is crazy as a shithouse rat. I mean that literally and in every sense of the comparison. And he's far more evil and dangerous than anyone I can recall the last couple of centuries.

I would never encourage anyone to harm the president, but if someone managed to chop off a few of his appendages, well, I sure as shit would not shed any tears.

[salinen]

7. Snakes

have no appendages. Too bad.

[jmowreader]

10. Would you PLEASE...

quit insulting shithouse rats by comparing them to Bush?

Look, Bush has got to shut down space science because (1) there's no direct financial gain for his sponsors, (2) science gets in the way of Bush's brand of religion and (3) scientific expenditures cut into the budget for Satellite Destroying Missiles Launched from the Moon. (I was also going to throw in something about green cheese, but not even Bush is that stupid.)

[Faygo Kid]

8. Hubble doesn't help develop offensive space-based weaponry

Hubble is basic scientific exploration, with a "wow" factor thrown in. But it does nothing to advance the development of space weaponry (forget "Star Wars;" the neocons will claim it's defensive. Yeah right). That's what this is about, along with helping build more strength for Bush's military-industrial complex.

[salinen]

9. Yeah, like the "The War Department"

changes to "The Defense Department". The U.S. therefore, can never be responsible for starting a war.

[gate of the sun]

11. I am angry as well

but on a side note hopefully before the Hubble goes caputs....we will see a new president in office who will shelve this piece o shit into some dark compost hole....until we are technically and fiscally more capable of blasting off to new horizens or making some silly star wars killing machine......and the Hubble will stay intact and running smoothly bring us the wonders of the universe for years to come. I can hope can't I?

[NewHampster]

12. The real Hubble

Its not really being abandoned at all.

It's being secretly passed to homeland security for use in catching terrorists in the act. Hubble will be pointed Earthward and scan every american at least once a day. due to its incredible magnification the Hubble is capable of counting the Stubble on clean shaven faces.

If an off white, ferorner lookin type has beard growth of more than 1/4 inch a day the hubble's secret ray guns are fired up and fry 'em before he can get us peaceful americans. Teach them a lesson.

[ramapo]

13. NASA claims it's a safety issue

The claim is that the shuttle will only be used for ISS missions. That will provide a lifeboat instead of another Columbia-type problem. The Hubble cannot be reached from the ISS orbit. It would be expensive, not practical to develop safety measures for a Hubble mission hence they're going to ditch the Hubble.

A replacement telescope is slated for 2009.

I don't know that I buy it.

[Ilsa]

14. Did anyone else notice that aside from O'Keefe, the people at the

announcement last week didn't look that pleased with Georgie. Many of them didn't look very enthusiastic to be with the pResident, could barely clap, had scowls on their faces. They looked like they had been given pink slips. My guess is that they feel used for political expediency and propaganda. My guess is they figure that if the great projects get canned for George's fantasy trip and he loses the election, they'll be back at ground zero begging for funding.

[MercutioATC]

15. I felt the same way when I first read this, BUT:

The James Webb Telescope, the Hubble replacement, is slated for launch in 2011. Hubble will probably die in 2007-8 without support, but may last longer.

I believe we should push for additional funding for the James Webb Telescope to accellerate it's implementation rather thab getting upset over the demise of old, though extremely valuable, technology.

http://ngst.gsfc.nasa.gov/