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Showing messages 1 through 3 of 3.

• Not an easy choice
  2005-04-23 05:49:55  m_keightley [View]
  
  
  There shouldn't need to be a choice made here, but if one where needed, I don't see that any other logical choice but to save the shuttle.
  Yes it's old and expensive to run, but if we have the shuttle then we have a way to build hubble's replacement at some future date.

• Keep Hubble Alive
  2005-04-22 02:02:31  Chuck Toporek | [View]
  
  
  I know Hubble's already on a collision course with the South Pacific, but until the NGST's ready to launch, Hubble should be serviced and kept on-station. Hubble's had far more shiny moments, and is still bringing us amazing images of our universe. Meanwhile, the Space Shuttle is 1970s technology that really shows its age and should be sent out to pasture now.
  
  It's easy for Congress to say "sink the Hubble" and "launch the Shuttle", but in reality, the Hubble is still serviceable, while the Shuttle is a rickety bucket of bolts. One does not harm and benefits the scientific community, while the other has a huge potential for catastrophic failure (as we've seen now on two occasions). It's clear that Congress and NASA use the Shuttle and the International Space Station as PR tools for funding (er, waste of tax dollars), and that makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. Do we really need to launch satellites from the Shuttle? No, but it sure looks pretty when they do. (See what I mean.)
  
  Why put the lives of astronauts at risk when we know the Shuttle isn't doing the trick anymore? Scuttle the Shuttle and let's build something that's better, safer, is more efficient, and has more range. (Notice, I didn't include "cheaper" there. If you're going to spend tax money, let's at least do this right the next time around.)
  

• Hubble v. Shuttle
  2005-04-21 18:29:15  Osgood [View]
  
  
  Why do we have to *choose*? The Space Shuttle reflects mankind's current, if improvised effort to take himself beyond the bonds of Madre Tierra. Hubble has allowed us a magnificent view of our celestial neighborhood, farther reaches and even hints of our origins. We can use both; indeed, didn't human crews launch and repair Hubble? But let's be realistic, shall we-- many of our fellow citiizens would likely prefer to do away with either (or both) if that would lower their apparent taxes make earthly issues just go away; i.e., N. Korea, Syria, Iran or Kofi Annan -- typical Axis of Evil Stuff, George.