7 ms·

The holy grail here is to figure out a way to not just boost it, but start doing some part replacement work on Hubble. There's wonky computers, gyroscopes, and

by mabbo 4y ago

The holy grail here is to figure out a way to not just boost it, but start doing some part replacement work on Hubble. There's wonky computers, gyroscopes, and likely other parts that just need a swap out. Hubble is designed to let people do this. The only problem is that doing it today requires a person in a very bulky space suit that won't fit through the Dragon's door. Perhaps a robot?

ghufran_syed 4y ago
The polaris dawn mission is planned to use starship, and will aim to do the first private EVA. And the hubble boost mission would also use starship. So it’s definitely a possibility!
- ghufran_syed 4y ago
  although now I think about it, if starship works, they could capture hubble, return it to earth, fix it and then relaunch it
  - baq 4y ago
    No point coming back home to fix it; better launch a brand new one as everything inside would be replaced anyway
- nordsieck 4y ago
  > The polaris dawn mission is planned to use starship, and will aim to do the first private EVA. And the hubble boost mission would also use starship. So it’s definitely a possibility! I think you're a bit confused. Polaris Dawn is the 1st of 3 missions, and it will be using a Crew Dragon capsule. The Hubble boost mission is the 2nd mission; I suppose it's possible that it could be using Starship, but there's no word so far that it's likely. Currently, the 2nd mission is planning on using Crew Dragon and docking to Hubble with a device located in the trunk. It's the 3rd mission that's planned to use Starship. https://polarisprogram.com/ https://polarisprogram.com/
  - ghufran_syed 4y ago
    you’re right, thanks!
cma 4y ago
Doesn't everything have to be designed differently on a space robot vs an earth one due to metal cold welding together and stuff? Just something I read about with the JWST gearing, maybe it only matters for something out there a long time.
nordsieck 4y ago
> The only problem is that doing it today requires a person in a very bulky space suit that won't fit through the Dragon's door. Perhaps you haven't been following, but Polairs Dawn (the 1st Polaris mission) will be doing an EVA with a SpaceX designed suit. Part of the reason the suit can fit out of the door is because it's a tethered suit. Assuming the tether is long enough, there's no reason in principle that someone couldn't use such a suit to work on Hubble.

by mabbo 4y ago

ghufran_syed 4y ago

The polaris dawn mission is planned to use starship, and will aim to do the first private EVA. And the hubble boost mission would also use starship. So it’s definitely a possibility!

ghufran_syed 4y ago
although now I think about it, if starship works, they could capture hubble, return it to earth, fix it and then relaunch it
- baq 4y ago
  No point coming back home to fix it; better launch a brand new one as everything inside would be replaced anyway
nordsieck 4y ago
> The polaris dawn mission is planned to use starship, and will aim to do the first private EVA. And the hubble boost mission would also use starship. So it’s definitely a possibility! I think you're a bit confused. Polaris Dawn is the 1st of 3 missions, and it will be using a Crew Dragon capsule. The Hubble boost mission is the 2nd mission; I suppose it's possible that it could be using Starship, but there's no word so far that it's likely. Currently, the 2nd mission is planning on using Crew Dragon and docking to Hubble with a device located in the trunk. It's the 3rd mission that's planned to use Starship. https://polarisprogram.com/ https://polarisprogram.com/
- ghufran_syed 4y ago
  you’re right, thanks!

cma 4y ago

Doesn't everything have to be designed differently on a space robot vs an earth one due to metal cold welding together and stuff? Just something I read about with the JWST gearing, maybe it only matters for something out there a long time.

nordsieck 4y ago

> The only problem is that doing it today requires a person in a very bulky space suit that won't fit through the Dragon's door. Perhaps you haven't been following, but Polairs Dawn (the 1st Polaris mission) will be doing an EVA with a SpaceX designed suit. Part of the reason the suit can fit out of the door is because it's a tethered suit. Assuming the tether is long enough, there's no reason in principle that someone couldn't use such a suit to work on Hubble.