A Bad Fix for Hubble? - Robotic repair may be riskier than first thought

Posted on: Dec. 27th, 2004 || Source: sciam.com | E-mail Article | Print Article

The decision to repair the Hubble Space Telescope with robotics technology seemed a natural given the safety concerns raised by the crash of the space shuttle Columbia in 2003. That way the observatory prized by scientists and admired by the public could function for at least five more years with upgraded sensors. And all the experience gained by using teleoperated manipulators would form the basis of future semiautonomous servicing operations in space.

Now, however, independent analyses have cast fresh doubts on whether a robotic mission can reliably save Hubble...

Read the full article

• Boeing's C-130 AMP Flight Marks Completion of Software Development
• Navy UCAS Demonstrator On Track for First Flight
• Lockheed Demonstrates Intelligent Autonomous Control of Multiple UAVs
• Russian Navy aircraft test new equipment over the Arctic
• Russia may push forward with S-300 sales to Iran
• Boeing, US Navy Offer Super Hornet for Denmark Fighter Competition
• Boeing Awarded US Army Contract for 191 CH-47F Chinook Helicopters
• The Netherlands shows interest in Gripen
• 4th F-35 Lightning II Rolls Out As Production Line Fills Up At Lockheed
• Lockheed Martin C-5m Super Galaxy Completes Flight Test
• Air Guard Predator pilots increase combat air patrols
• Predator passes 400,000 hours
• Future Predator/Reaper Formal Training Unit announced
• Saab/Gripen team completes Hungarian offset contract
• South African Gripen deliveries on track