Hubble’s Uncertain Future
picture of HST
• 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
The Future:
1. Possible Robotic
Mission (DEXTRE)
2. Decision summer 05