3 ms·

Are there any launch systems capable of maintenance on Hubble? I thought all the old missions were done with the space shuttle.

• justinclift 2y ago
  If only we had a space industry that could put things into orbit... ;)
  • satiric 2y ago
    Can they take astronauts, and parts, and all the EVA equipment, up to a high enough orbit? From a quick google, it looks like Starship could do it in the future if it becomes human rated (in many years' time), or Dragon could theoretically be extensively modified to work (although it seems like this plan has been rejected by NASA because of how risky it would be: https://payloadspace.com/spacex-wont-be-visiting-hubble-anytime-soon/ https://payloadspace.com/spacex-wont-be-visiting-hubble-anyt...).
    • justinclift 2y ago
      Might not need to be human rated. Something remotely operated (teleoperation?) might be able to get it done. Well, "might" if it's the SpaceX crowd that put it together. :) The modern Boeing/ULA... probably not so much. :(
  • wkat4242 2y ago
    The good thing about the shuttle was that it could also serve as a base for astronauts to work and live for weeks. The ISS couldn't really have been built without it. Getting them there is only part of the problem. The space shuttle was basically a space RV. The current options are more like a space micro car.
    • justinclift 2y ago
      Interesting point. I'll be interesting to see what SpaceX's Starship enables once it's up an running. Can fit an awful lot of stuff into a single launch from that. :)