3 ms·

If Snoopy somehow stayed near (or returned to) the Earth-moon system, retrieving it might be similar to fixing the Hubble in space. Difficult, yes, expensive, o

by kijin 7y ago

If Snoopy somehow stayed near (or returned to) the Earth-moon system, retrieving it might be similar to fixing the Hubble in space. Difficult, yes, expensive, of course, but evidently doable.

close04 7y ago
Would retrieving the module bring the same kind of benefit as fixing Hubble did?
- kijin 7y ago
  Fixing the Hubble involved sending a bunch of people on a space shuttle. We don't have the shuttle anymore, but now we have much better robotics. A mission such as retrieving Snoopy might be a great opportunity to develop and test robotic retrieval missions in space. That technology could come in handy, for example, when we need to rescue people who are stuck in malfunctioning capsules. Or for mining asteroids and sending the resulting bulk material elsewhere in space. Or maybe for retrieving EOL satellites that are about to crash into one another and spread debris all over the place. In America, doggy retrieves stick. In Soviet Russia, big firey stick retrieves doggy. :)
  - close04 7y ago
    > might be a great opportunity to develop and test robotic retrieval missions in space Hubble was fixed so it can perform its mission: it was uniquely qualified to send high resolution images of the universe, which proved invaluable to our understanding of space. If testing tech is your aim then Snoopy is just as good as anything else. In the end it may be more valuable left in space for future space archaeologists.
    - kijin 7y ago
      In space exploration, testing new technology is synonymous with developing said technology. I would rather they debut bleeding-edge space retrieval technology with a piece of antiquity with good publicity value than with something that is actually critical, such as a manned capsule or a suspected alien spacecraft.
      - close04 7y ago
        Now that sounds more like a "Oh that would be cool" type wishlist than actually useful mission. There are probably dozens of more suitable pieces of "space memorabilia" that could be used for such tests. And if there isn't you can easily put there a realistic mock-up of whatever you want to rescue. Look at Musk's flying Tesla for example. There's nothing that makes Snoopy uniquely qualified for it. But there's only one Hubble. The single greatest tool for space exploration we ever had at our disposal. And one that had already cost $5bn by the time it needed the fix. The 2 cases don't feel to similar at all, short of them being both in space.

by kijin 7y ago

If Snoopy somehow stayed near (or returned to) the Earth-moon system, retrieving it might be similar to fixing the Hubble in space. Difficult, yes, expensive, of course, but evidently doable.

close04 7y ago

Would retrieving the module bring the same kind of benefit as fixing Hubble did?

kijin 7y ago
Fixing the Hubble involved sending a bunch of people on a space shuttle. We don't have the shuttle anymore, but now we have much better robotics. A mission such as retrieving Snoopy might be a great opportunity to develop and test robotic retrieval missions in space. That technology could come in handy, for example, when we need to rescue people who are stuck in malfunctioning capsules. Or for mining asteroids and sending the resulting bulk material elsewhere in space. Or maybe for retrieving EOL satellites that are about to crash into one another and spread debris all over the place. In America, doggy retrieves stick. In Soviet Russia, big firey stick retrieves doggy. :)
- close04 7y ago
  > might be a great opportunity to develop and test robotic retrieval missions in space Hubble was fixed so it can perform its mission: it was uniquely qualified to send high resolution images of the universe, which proved invaluable to our understanding of space. If testing tech is your aim then Snoopy is just as good as anything else. In the end it may be more valuable left in space for future space archaeologists.
  - kijin 7y ago
    In space exploration, testing new technology is synonymous with developing said technology. I would rather they debut bleeding-edge space retrieval technology with a piece of antiquity with good publicity value than with something that is actually critical, such as a manned capsule or a suspected alien spacecraft.
    - close04 7y ago
      Now that sounds more like a "Oh that would be cool" type wishlist than actually useful mission. There are probably dozens of more suitable pieces of "space memorabilia" that could be used for such tests. And if there isn't you can easily put there a realistic mock-up of whatever you want to rescue. Look at Musk's flying Tesla for example. There's nothing that makes Snoopy uniquely qualified for it. But there's only one Hubble. The single greatest tool for space exploration we ever had at our disposal. And one that had already cost $5bn by the time it needed the fix. The 2 cases don't feel to similar at all, short of them being both in space.