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Hubble’s Uncertain Future
•Jan. 2004, NASA Director Sean O’Keefe announced it was too dangerous to service HST with a shuttle mission (no aborts).
•Without regular service, HST will fail
–Gyroscopes & Orbital Decay
•Service also provides upgrades
–Computers!  Solar panels, etc.
–Instruments!  STIS just failed.
•Waiting on the “Next Generation” Space Telescope (NGST) renamed the James Webb Telescope
picture of HST
The Future:
1.Possible Robotic Mission (DEXTRE)
2.Decision summer 05