Why space repairs aren't easy

Jim Thompson — Fri, 15 May 2009 22:51:24 GMT

Replacing a headlight in a VW Beetle ain't rocket science. Up to 66 on the glass enclosed models, it shouldn't take more then 10 minutes tops, that is if yer not all thumbs. 67-later are more like the American style, shouldn't take more than 5 minutes tops. Now in a weightless environment, it might be a different story altogether.......

[ALAN ADDS: As I said, I was trying too hard. ;-) ]

Why space repairs aren't easy

John Doe, Seattle, Wash — Fri, 15 May 2009 22:52:07 GMT

Didn't former NASA administrator Sean O'Keefe blither that "Rocket science isn't rocket science, any more."

Seems under-accurate.

Why space repairs aren't easy

Jon Mapes — Fri, 15 May 2009 23:31:33 GMT

It would have been cheaper to replace the Hubble rather than repair with a manned mission. Face it folks, manned spaceflight is a titanic waste of money. We have nowhere to go. I have always loved space exploration, but I've realized that people will never get to a habitable planet other than earth. These sort of "space repairs" are nothing but political expenditures. Spend the money on trying to clean up our home.

Why space repairs aren't easy

Alan Boyle — Fri, 15 May 2009 23:32:12 GMT

One question that isn't really answered is how much it cost to design and build those 60 tools. That figure is hard to come by. Last year, the folks at Goddard told me it cost $10 million or so to design and make seven Pistol Grip Tools, so my guess is that the Mini Power Tool and all the other devices that had to be made for the current Hubble mission should cost at least that much. But I could be wrong. If anyone has any pointers to better estimates, please feel free to send them along.

Why space repairs aren't easy

Peter Pan — Fri, 15 May 2009 23:57:49 GMT

It shouldn't cost a million dollars to create a power tool from scratch. That's ridiculous. I'm sorry, I love space stuff as much as anyone but I do think it's a collosal waste of money especially considering the state of the world and our economy right now.

Why space repairs aren't easy

Seth Lado, Torrance, CA, — Sat, 16 May 2009 00:00:45 GMT

Mapes is way, WAY off target.

The colonization of space is necessary for the long-term survival of our species. (Just ask Steven Hawking). As for habitability, the entire Earth was once a marginally habitable wilderness to our distant ancestors who used courage & technology to conquer it. (I take it that you don't live in a tree & forage for food, Mr. Mapes?)

If we had chosen to make Olduvai Gorge into Paradise before venturing further, then we would have become extinct millions of years ago. Manned spaceflight therefore is the most important activity of our present civilization.

Why space repairs aren't easy

Whoever — Sat, 16 May 2009 00:00:49 GMT

Some of them tools might come in handy soon like when trying to do mechanical work in COLD weather and be able to keep the thick gloves on!!!

COOL!!!

Why space repairs aren't easy

Mark, Seattle WA — Sat, 16 May 2009 00:09:38 GMT

for those that see no benefit from manned space travel... they are short sighted morons! First off there is the plethora of information that we have learned not only of our own planet, but of general science and physics that cannot be learned in any other manner that through direct experimentation and observation. Add to that the HUNDREDS of everyday products that have made our lives here on earth more convenient, safer and healthier. NASA developed heart monitors to monitor astronauts health in space. Think of the lives that have been saved by that one invention! Then there's products like Velcro, Mylar, and thousands of types of plastics that are in use in our every day lives. NASA has been invaluable.

Why space repairs aren't easy

Billy Bob Berkeley, CA — Sat, 16 May 2009 00:11:49 GMT

Is a Magnet still a Magnet out in space ??

[ALAN ADDS: Yes]

Why space repairs aren't easy

EWAdams, Normandy, Surrey, UK — Sat, 16 May 2009 00:16:19 GMT

Sorry, Mr. Mapes, but without manned spaceflight there would not be the political support for ANY kind of spaceflight. It may be financially irrational, but so was hurrying to beat the Russians to the moon -- we spent all that money mostly for the prestige value. We send humans into space for the same reason we sent them to the Antarctic. There was no money to be made; we send them because it is an expression of the human spirit that uplifts us.

"Some may ask, 'Why go to the moon?' And they may well ask, 'Why climb the highest mountain? Why, 35 years ago, fly the Atlantic? Why does Rice play Texas? We CHOOSE to go to the moon." -- John F. Kennedy

Why space repairs aren't easy

Mike LaPan, San Diego, CA — Sat, 16 May 2009 00:30:03 GMT

Are all of you serious? Talking about "it would have been cheaper to send another one up than fix this one" and "we have nowhere to go". America is being a bunch of sticks in the mud. Where's your sense of exploration? Maybe you are all just jeleous because you didn't become astronauts... who knows? All I can say is that these missions are exciting and a great example of working with other countries to accomplish a mutual goal. I don't think the EU scientists think these missions are a waste of time. I'm glad NASA continues to explore and discover the universe around us. Anything else we can learn about space isn't because we have nowhere to go, but more about what surrounds us and how we may have to rely more on it in the future. Just be a little open-minded.

Why space repairs aren't easy

S Anthony Ulibarri — Sat, 16 May 2009 00:31:30 GMT

Jon Mapes, We may not get to a habitable world in our lifetime, but there is more to space exploration than colonizing other plants. The advances to our technology, the knowledge we gain of the universe and ourselves, the inspiration we provide to young children. These are all beneficial to us.

Some advances are less so than others....the space pen or pencil? (Of course what happens if you break the lead on the pencil and sharpen it and the shavings or lead piece float off into instruments, so maybe the space pen was a good investment). A great advancement were these little micro bubbles that are used to soak up oil spills (You said spend it on cleaning up our home). They now sell the stuff at your local paint store. The advancement in computers. Im sure there are dozens of other examples.

Also, even un-inhabital places can offer a WEALTH of resources. Imagine miniing an asteroid for rare metals, or a comet for the water.

There is more to space than just finding another inhabitable planet. It seems to me that all of you who complain about the cost of our space program, easily forget all the good it has done this country and the world. The inspiration it gives to our children alone is worth the cost.

Why space repairs aren't easy

MIKE, OIL CITY, PA — Sat, 16 May 2009 00:33:49 GMT

Love the space programs, and all those nifty, clever and brave people. Up is space or down on the ground what a beautiful crew of men and women. God bless you all and keep flying, finding and fixing.

Why space repairs aren't easy

88man — Sat, 16 May 2009 00:41:56 GMT

Its only money lol we can print more.

Why space repairs aren't easy

john — Sat, 16 May 2009 00:47:26 GMT

Sorry Jon,
we will inhabit other planets , but we will be known as space roaches, trails of crap and rubbish will follow where ever we go.

Earth, orbit round earth ,etc ,etc , and we wonder why no one bothers to contact us, it would be like god inviting big business to eden.

Why space repairs aren't easy

cody mccall — Sat, 16 May 2009 00:51:14 GMT

Watching our astronauts fix Hubble while our incomparably beautiful planet slowly passing below I think back to my senior year in high school and how it's a far cry from watching Alan Shepard arc up and over and plop in the Atlantic after his 15-minute suborbital hop in the tiny Mercury capsule. Hubble is pure science. Absolutely no military applications. A genuine quest for ultimate knowledge. And I get a very nice feeling in my gut observing these courageous and skilled astronauts making repairs 350 miles straight up and I am continually amazed that I can sit here on the ground and watch the whole process on my desktop. It is good to be amazed from time to time, and this is one of those times. To those Hubble fixers, God speed and a safe trip home. I'll be watching til those tires kiss the runway at The Cape.

Why space repairs aren't easy

Ron, Skidmore, TX — Sat, 16 May 2009 00:57:27 GMT

NASA's budget...0.7 of 1% of the federal budget. What a bargain!!!

Why space repairs aren't easy

Roga, California — Sat, 16 May 2009 01:07:41 GMT

Jon Mapes - Typical all-new power tools from Black and Decker, for instance, probably do cost somewhere on the order of several $100,000 to a million to develop. The difference is that that B&D expects to sell several 100,000 to a million units, so the amortization is only a few bucks per drill.

Billy Bob - A magnet is still a magnet, but electricity on the other hand is very different. I was surprised that Alan didn't mention arcing, which becomes a huge problem in anything electrical when you try to use it in a vacuum. You basically need to insulate everything - no exposed (or scratched) motor windings, no screw-down terminal blocks for wires, no circuit boards with simple solders or even exposed test points. It makes things a lot more difficult to develop and build.

[ALAN ADDS: Excellent point about the arcing, I only wish I had thought of that. The Space Telescope Operations Control Center (STOCC) makes sure it powers down all the instruments that the spacewalkers are working on before they start, but they still have to be very careful, not only to avoid hurting the circuitry (or getting hurt by it) but also to avoid breaking things like the star trackers. After new instruments are installed, Hubble's handlers have to wait a while before turning them on in order to allow for outgassing. The engineers have to make sure there are no lingering wisps of volatiles that could contribute to arcing when it's time to send the juice flowing through the circuitry. That's a big reason why we probably won't see pictures from the new instruments until after Labor Day.]

Why space repairs aren't easy

Rodger Rokitts — Sat, 16 May 2009 01:09:57 GMT

It may cost a lot of money to do all this stuff. But think of all those well fed pets of engineers and contractor firms.

Not only that, but if some day we do decide to send a crew of nymphos out into space to inhabit some random place, it'ld be nice if they can fix their own stuff as I'm sure triple A memberships has an exclusion clause for breakdowns occurring more than 5000 miles from earth.
...Although if not! a few bucks for nasa to join triple a could be the most intelligent investment they ever make.

Why space repairs aren't easy

PhantomAce — Sat, 16 May 2009 01:21:34 GMT

I'd rather spend the money on space exploration and knowledge than more bombs and bail-outs for Goldman Sachs...
Just a thought.

Why space repairs aren't easy

Cosmic, Minneapolis, MN — Sat, 16 May 2009 01:23:58 GMT

Down the line they should design these space satellites or telescopes with an internal access where the astronaut doesn't have to spacewalk, where they can just dock and have all the parts accessible from there for repair.

Why space repairs aren't easy

mike alexander, McMinnville, Oregon — Sat, 16 May 2009 01:24:37 GMT

1)Follow-on instruments are in development (look for James Webb telescope on the internet, for example).

2)The optics of the Hubble are in great shape. Detection devices have made incredible strides since it was orbited.

3) The improved instruments were already finished and ready to go.

4) Telescopes built up to a century ago are still in use on earth. The Hale telescope (Palomar) was put in operation in the late 1940's and still does great work. The Hooker telescope (early 20th century, Mt. Wilson) has been revived. If the basic platform was well thought out, it can be bumped up as technology moves forward.

5) The argument "We could use the money to..." fix this or that was old when I watched Apollo landings. Sorry, but NASA is chump change, compared to the money used to do most everything else. The cost of bailing out a large money cemetery (i.e., large investment company)is gigantic compared to what it costs to go to Saturn.

Why space repairs aren't easy

Will Power, Anytown, USA — Sat, 16 May 2009 01:25:25 GMT

I had to replace a headlight on a '58 VW Beetle the day I bought it -- the previous owner had installed it upside-down. One of the damned retaining springs shot off and hit me square on the eyeball!

[ALAN ADDS: There but for the grace of God go eye.]

Why space repairs aren't easy

Greg — Sat, 16 May 2009 01:25:57 GMT

Don't be surprised at the cost. I'm an aircraft mechanic in the Army, and a couple of years ago we had to replace a couple of broken knobs on an old radio. They weren't stocked by the Army anymore, so we had to custom-order them from the manufacturer. At a cost of 300 dollars...EACH. For some quarter-inch by half-inch knobs, and we could have gotten comparable subsituted form Radio Shack for 89 cents. But we had to go with what the Army says to use. Yes, it's all politics there, and a waste of your tax dollars. Do astronauts need special tools? They definitely do, but not for THAT much money.

Why space repairs aren't easy

greg hall,willingboro,nj — Sat, 16 May 2009 01:28:34 GMT

i view the exploration of space a colossal waste of money given the problems humanity faces. Famine disease and war still trouble mankind. Homelessness has become a problem. The destruction from Hurricane Katrina is still evident. The government has done more fixing a telescope in outerspace than helping fix one of its major cities.

Why space repairs aren't easy

Dave Madden Mt Sterling KY — Sat, 16 May 2009 01:33:01 GMT

Amen! Have you seen some of those pics from Hubble? The one with all of the galaxies from an empty spot in the sky!
How else are our children to overcome the mess we've made of this world? Trvael to another and not waste it like we so recklessly have with this one. Maybe there is not a forseeable gain from exploration in the near future. But do you think all of the valuable info is worthless?

Why space repairs aren't easy

john shuster MD — Sat, 16 May 2009 01:37:25 GMT

i agree that manned spaceflight is cool, and i am a huge science advocate. i do agree that we have nowhere to go. until the archaic method of riding a controlled explosion to space and polluting along the way is replaced with some method advanced physics will develop, we may as well be trying to fly around in a steam powered airplane. i the last 10 years, can anybody name anything that came out of the space pogram that benefitted the earth or humanity? better satellites to monitor erosion and climate change and deforestation are well worth it, but ultimately space is a huge boondoggle until we can collapse time/space and really go "somewhere".

Why space repairs aren't easy

Laura, Virginia — Sat, 16 May 2009 01:42:29 GMT

Actually, I don't think it would have been less expensive to build another telescope. Building the original telescope cost $1.175 BILLION back in the early 80s. Can you imagine how much it would cost if they did that now??

Why space repairs aren't easy

James Green, Vancouver, Bc — Sat, 16 May 2009 01:50:13 GMT

Without these programs, humans would not grow. It's human nature to see what is beyond. The program (NASA)has done, has made our lives here better either by way of invention or modification. Yes we went to the moon. Yes the ISS does experiments for us. So what ever it takes I'm all for. Keep up the good work. Keep the telescope going.

Why space repairs aren't easy

Dan, Seattle — Sat, 16 May 2009 01:58:14 GMT

Mapes is also wrong about replacing the Hubble with another ready-made space telescope. The design and testing of these craft are all entirely custom, which requires huge cost. You don't just crank out another unit and deploy it...if you think the spherical aberration from Hubble's initial deployment was bad, I can't wait to show you the hundreds of defects which can easily occur with any remotely controlled spacecraft. This mission is a small price to pay for the gushing data fountain that Hubble has been for over 15 years.

Why space repairs aren't easy

Jim — Sat, 16 May 2009 02:01:38 GMT

Actually, I think it would be much more expensive to construct and send up a new version of the Hubble than to retrofit it. Simply because it would cost billions to build the new device and then it would take at least a couple of shuttle flights to get the telescope into space. Then it would have to be assembled which would require the creation of a set of custom tools etc.

Frankly, as long as the Hubble is able to meet the needs of NASA there is no reason to replace it.

Why space repairs aren't easy

Brett — Sat, 16 May 2009 02:09:57 GMT

Thank you to all the people who have a positive view of space exploration! Space is indeed the final frontier and we will one day inhabit it to a greater extent than we do already. I just hope that before the dreadful day that the Earth is no longer inhabitable and hospitable to us we will have the technology to live in space somewhere on a large enough scale to continue the human race. It is our only hope in the long run. For whether we destroy our environment or not, it is a fact that the world we enjoy and take for granted will not always be able to sustain our fragile existence. If we do not learn how to live in space then the human race will indeed one day perish forever.

Anyway, Hubble is GREAT! The incredible science it has taught us as well as the breathtaking imagery it has produced is worth far more than the $10 Billion invested! And I'm sure the brave people who have given their lives for the sake of it would whole-heartedly agree!

LONG LIVE HUBBLE!

Why space repairs aren't easy

james switzer — Sat, 16 May 2009 02:11:59 GMT

Only after the last of 100 screws have been inserted,will it be discovered that the gasket has been left out.

Why space repairs aren't easy

Jason.S, Peoria, Illinois — Sat, 16 May 2009 02:23:08 GMT

Understanding space can help us understand other ways to stop air pollution, learning to control UV and many other things that we currently destroy in our own system. There have been many great advances in space that have significantly changed the way we look and do things here on earth. If man just stopped exploring period even the greatest technology we have would seize to exsist. We may not like the price we pay to do things but in time it's all worth the wait and the cost it took to get there.

Why space repairs aren't easy

Georgio Belenzona — Sat, 16 May 2009 02:25:25 GMT

Space exploration provides many countries an opportunity to work together towards a common goal. The pride this instills in citizens of each participating nation helps to strengthen the ties that bind us. Space exploration has everyone looking up!

Why space repairs aren't easy

Nathan F. Memphis, Tn, — Sat, 16 May 2009 02:29:11 GMT

It seems to me that the money would be better spent designing a better glove.

[ALAN ADDS: Glad you mentioned that, Nathan. NASA is indeed working to design a better glove, as well as a better spacesuit. Here's a story I wrote about a contest NASA and private partners recently ran to encourage better astronaut gloves:]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18474732/

[And here's what happens if you don't have a good glove:]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20275977/

Why space repairs aren't easy

A Ashamed Republican — Sat, 16 May 2009 02:30:15 GMT

Those who see no value in manned space flight are those who are still dragging their knuckles with the last administration. Although I do agree the past was made possible by a race and prestige of being first today is much different. Then again once bill energy connected to the last administration gets to the moon and starts raping it too we will need to be able to move past that and let them rape Mars and any other object in space that may keep them in the cash. Its unfortunate that we must take the good with the bad but thank god the Neanderthals of the last administration are at least extinct.. for now

Why space repairs aren't easy

Ozone — Sat, 16 May 2009 02:30:49 GMT

A private company committed to designing a high-quality cordless power hand tool so durable that it would work in space would (aside from being "crazy") spend the same amount on R&D. We wouldn't hear about that cost because it would be amortized over the sale of some projected millions in units to be sold to consumers over the life of the design. NASA doesn't get to amortize that cost by selling additional production models to us (although having one would be pretty cool, no?).

Why space repairs aren't easy

Charles, Willis MI — Sat, 16 May 2009 02:32:54 GMT

Do you think the technology to write this weblog and send it to millions of people would have existed if it weren't for the space program? Someone has to, suck it up and spend a few billion $ and move us forward as a civilization.

Why space repairs aren't easy

Vince Smith FWB florida — Sat, 16 May 2009 02:54:16 GMT

Space is a waste, we will never get to another planet. Machines break, just look at all the work hubble has required to keep it alive. and its only 350 miles away. If you get halfway to pluto and your power supply or you stiss breaks down the shuttle aint coming to give you another one. YOU JUST DIE!! You cant live in the vacuum of space. of course some of the posters here might be able too they already live with a vacuum between their ears!!

Why space repairs aren't easy

Kenneth Green, Russellville, AR — Sat, 16 May 2009 03:03:03 GMT

You have to start exploring somewhere, even though that somewhere may seem pointless. The reason most of the world was settled and developed, especially North and South America, was because individuals got it in there heads to start exploring while others laughed at them and said it was pointless. We learn every day new things about the effects of space on human anatomy, and what it would take to live in it. Sending humans into space is just as crucial to space exploration as sending a probe into the vast unknown.

The large expense for developing space power tools probably comes from all the testing that has to be performed to insure they will work properly in a space environment. The best comparison I can come up with is say asking for a pen and paper, but wanting that pen and paper to work submerged in a lake. Yeah, sure everyone can get or make a pen and paper, but what will it take to develop a pen that works underwater and a piece of paper that will allow you to write on it underwater with a pen, as well as stay in one piece. When you develop something for a environment that it was originally developed for, the cost to redevelop it can grow exponentially.

Why space repairs aren't easy

prez — Sat, 16 May 2009 03:06:27 GMT

Why Space Repairs Aren't Easy??? Your Kidding me right? Do you want to know why they aren't easy? BECAUSE ITS OUTER- F&*$ing- SPACE!!!! I will never go to outer space and no one reading this article will ever go to outer space... Much less try to work on a spaceship in the middle of outer space. That why its hard... They are in SPACE!!!

Why space repairs aren't easy

John Murray — Sat, 16 May 2009 03:07:56 GMT

I think it's remarkable that an article about space science, in this case the single most productive instrument in the history of human knowledge, usually spawns an argument about wasting money, but an article about a new weapons system usually does not. Compare the costs and usefulness of the B-2 bomber or F-22 fighter versus the Hubble Telescope. Compare the Defense Department's budget to NASA's budget. Maybe both are a waste of money, or maybe neither, but I find it bizarre that people generally only complain about NASA. Perhaps people assume that because spaceflight is so awesome NASA's budget must be outlandish, but it is not, not relatively. Maybe there is a historical reason why people tend to angrily oppose science and exploration, perhaps something to do with its history of threatening their religious beliefs.

Why space repairs aren't easy

Max Potosme, West Palm Beach, Fl — Sat, 16 May 2009 03:26:47 GMT

I do have a question. What speed the shuttle is traveling out of space? When they are doing these repairs at what speed they are doing this.

Why space repairs aren't easy

Brian Heindel, Las Vegas Neveda — Sat, 16 May 2009 03:39:13 GMT

In space their is no gravity like on Earth. ask yourself what's hard and what's easy. for an example if their wasn't any space program their won't be NO other way to fix it.

Why space repairs aren't easy

Stephen, Edmonton, Alberta — Sat, 16 May 2009 03:41:00 GMT

Why didn't we just bring Hubble home, fix it, and send it back??

Why space repairs aren't easy

Rob - Seattle — Sat, 16 May 2009 03:47:32 GMT

Vince, we've already gone to other planets, via machines. Heck we may even leave the solar system with Voyager 1 - now 108 AU from the sun, three times as far as Pluto and still ticking. Pretty good for something launched in 1977.
Hubble is a month past it's 19th birthday. How many 19 year old cars have you had that didnt need repairs?

Why space repairs aren't easy

A - Houston, Texas — Sat, 16 May 2009 04:00:19 GMT

It is in space, that's why.

Why space repairs aren't easy

Maximum Bob — Sat, 16 May 2009 04:49:07 GMT

There are so many factors involved in the maintenance aspect of this mission that can/could go wrong - but they haven't and I hope Hubble is back to 100% as it has always been after the talented astronauts working on it have demonstrated time and again.
As far as the tool issues go, people think "oh, just use a regular screwdriver," or "the one I have at home would work." Gemini astronauts were the first to have a go at this problem - and found that the laws of physics here at 1g do not apply at 0g. Turn a screw and if you're not tied down you move the opposite direction. The same holds true for power tools - you have to incorporate reduction gearing and torque limits to prevent a stripped or broken head.
I'm sure NASA is not going to spend a lot of money on specialized tools without thinking "How can we modify this for the ISS, or Orion, or another project?" Knowing the system works gives the added benefit that with a modification or two, a tool can be reused again and saves the R&D costs from starting from scratch.
And VW's are pretty simple yet hearty machines - like the Hubble. I have my VW books - I'd love to see the repair guides for the Hubble.

Why space repairs aren't easy

ALAN — Sat, 16 May 2009 04:49:42 GMT

Outer space is far cheaper than terrestrial warfare. We are respected for one and hated for the other.
Pretty simple in my mind.

Why space repairs aren't easy

oneil, opelousas, louisiana — Sat, 16 May 2009 04:50:02 GMT

i agree mapes. that money would be better spent feeding 3rd-generation welfare recipients.

Why space repairs aren't easy

David Darling — Sat, 16 May 2009 04:52:57 GMT

Many people look at what it costs to get a job done and not what we benefit from it. Thank goodness that we have people that are forward thinking enough to see what could be, by looking around and thinking “what if?” and making it happen. Countless times we must learn how not to do something before we can get it right!

Yes it costs money to do what has not been done before! Those who complain about how expensive it is have not created much themselves. You must understand everyone has to work with others to get anything done and everyone wants their piece of the action. This happens whether you are on Earth or in an extreme environment (space, underwater, living in Los Angeles - Phoenix - Hawaii or any other place where nature throws hazards – earthquakes – 100+ degrees – volcanoes – hurricanes - pollution – and so forth), so it is very difficult and expensive to accomplish. For what we spend, we earn back many times in value. What we learn in space we are able to apply here on the Earth!

Because we have gone to space we have looked back to Earth and said “O CRAP look what is happening to our planet!”!!!! A lot of what we know about what is wrong and what needs to be done can be traced back to what we have learned with the space program.

Keep up the good work and help find solutions to many problems that face mankind (and womankind, for those who think that we are not all in this together by whatever you want to call us) and life of every living creature and plant life on this shining jewel of a planet we call EARTH!

Why space repairs aren't easy

Eric - NJ — Sat, 16 May 2009 04:57:58 GMT

The "replacement" for the Hubble is the James Webb Space Telescope. It's current budget is $3.5 billion. Replacement is in quotes because it is a different type of telescope, and will not actually orbit the earth, but rather orbit the sun at a point past the moon.

I've seen numbers of $300 million to $1 billion for the repair job.

Why space repairs aren't easy

G.Smith, Lubbock,Tx. — Sat, 16 May 2009 05:10:59 GMT

OK millions of dollars for special tools seem extremely high, but in space there are no do overs or mulligans. Because of the technology provided by Nasa and engineers, we would not have a lot of the comforts we take for granted, remember this next time you use your cellphones, or flip on your satelite tv, go ahead and pick some of your favorite items and in some form they probably benifited from technology developed because of space and this includes propulsion technology. Without it we can become stagnant in the technology gains, although I don't see a need for rushing into manned missions to places such as Mars when it can be done by unmanned missions and only if the unmanned mission discovers something warranting manned exploration

Why space repairs aren't easy

Flying Mike SoCal — Sat, 16 May 2009 05:18:27 GMT

That is so cool…. making repairs on a telescope so we all can see beyond our reach, is technology as good as it gets?

Why space repairs aren't easy

Bob J. Southern California — Sat, 16 May 2009 05:29:47 GMT

The manned space program doesn't need to be a waste, but it's been managed so poorly that it's been almost a waste. Think back to the hype over the ISS, then look what's happened. Some science gets done, but not nearly what was planned. Here we are almost ready to retire the shuttle fleet and we can't even put a full crew onto the ISS. By the time we'll be able to, we won't have a way to get there unless we hitch a ride with one of our old Cold War adversaries.

As for going elsewhere, the problems are more biological than technological. Our unmanned hardware can happily cruise for years, but astronauts get bored, cranky, sick, old, etc. The real problem, however, is the radiation. We can't fly enough shielding because it takes too much mass to do much good, but without it, the astronauts will not fare well. On the moon we can use rock for shielding, but not on the way to Mars. So far we've been lucky, but we won't be forever. Until we solve that problem, we aren't going anywhere, and there aren't any realistic solutions on the horizon. Arm-waving, yes. Real solutions, no.

As for the Hubble repair mission, can you imagine us designing a mission with so many problems and screw-ups that need to be fixed? If we're even going to low-Earth orbit, we need to be able to build, repair, and maintain things we put up and Hubble has been great training. Personally, I think Hubble (warts and all) has been well worth the cost. It was cheap compared to the ISS, and has produced more science than the ISS ever will. And that, IMO, is the bottom line. It isn't where you go, it's what you bring back that counts.

Why space repairs aren't easy

Donald — Sat, 16 May 2009 05:32:19 GMT

If an astronaut's space suit is compromised, such that it loses pressurization during any extravehicular event, his/her blood will boil within seconds, meaning certain death. Therefor, we all would do well to appreciate the great thought and engineering that goes into the design of ALL spacecraft and machinery. Before criticizing the cost of space exploration, we all should be more apprised of the real environment we ask our astronauts, as well as their tools, to endure. There's nothing easy about it. Just because it seems to be routine doesn't mean that it is; it's just that we've gotten used to the extreme competence of the individuals involved at every level of NASA. It's easy to point fingers at that which is so far removed from your reality. I do not, nor have I ever worked for NASA or any of its contractors.

Why space repairs aren't easy

Doug Molina, Chicago, IL — Sat, 16 May 2009 05:34:09 GMT

why do we have PHD's as astronauts doing these repairs. We should be using regular folk like your next door plumber. We need crafts people up in space and not book nerds. Last i heard the people accompanying Columbus to the new world were criminals, misfits and regular people. The only academic was the priest

Why space repairs aren't easy

Eric Wang, Suwon, Korea — Sat, 16 May 2009 05:36:11 GMT

Jon Mapes: <It would have been cheaper to replace the Hubble rather than repair with a manned mission.>

No, you're factually misinformed. Each servicing mission costs about 20% of Hubble's sunk costs. Given that Hubble was space junk until after the 1st servicing mission fixed its optics, its net cost was $3 billion at launch + 0.8 billion for the 1st fix, which is ~$5 billion after adjustment (still being debated). Thereafter, each new mission was ~$1 billion for parts + launch.

Servicing is also cheaper in time. To plan, train, and execute a servicing mission takes about a year. The build time for any special parts (like WFC3) probably fits into Shuttle's incredibly backlogged schedule. In contrast, to build a new scope from scratch is a 5-8 year job. That's what Hubble took, and we're doing that right now for James Webb.

<Jon Mapes: Face it folks, manned spaceflight is a titanic waste of money.>

No, it's a tiny expenditure of money. Heck, downtown Chicago spends about as much as all of NASA.

Hubble's total cost to date is ~$10 billion. Compare that to any big-city construction project.

- Boston's Big Dig cost 2.2 Hubbles. A Hubble would just about pay the $7 billion *interest* on the Big Dig.
- Seoul's subway system cost about a Hubble.
- Chicago O'Hare's runway expansion plan is half a Hubble ($6 billion). London Heathrow Terminal 5 cost about the same (L4.3 billion).
- Cowboys Stadium is a servicing mission ($1.3 billion). So are Meadowlands Stadium (1.4), Yankee Stadium (1.5), etc.
- Fort McPherson has an $0.6 billion payroll for ~6000 personnel. Multiply that by 5 for a bigger base, e.g. Fort Bragg ~30,000. That's a Hubble every 3 years, just for their salaries and pensions. We maintain a lot of forts.

Scrap Hubble completely, and you can have any one more of those things. Or maybe buy all-new stadia for the AFC North + AFC South.

<Jon Mapes: Spend the money on trying to clean up our home.> NASA's entire budget wouldn't be a drop in the bucket compared to, say, lower Manhattan. One billion dollars doesn't clean up much.

I think we're better off with one fewer citywork + all of Hubble's discoveries. (Maybe that's where Seattle's light rail system went! *boomp-chh*) A society has to spend a small % of its money on research, exploration, and wild-ass guesses. History has shown that that's where your next breakthrough comes from, which gives you game-changing technologies. The poor you will always have with you. (And Doomsday is just around the corner, repent! etc.)

Why space repairs aren't easy

James G. Staples — Sat, 16 May 2009 05:50:57 GMT

CLEAN UP THE EARTH NOW & SLOW DOWN THE BREEDING!!!...UNSCREW SPACE...LIKE MAPES SAID...WE HAVE NOE WHERE TO GOE...

Why space repairs aren't easy

we richard kershman — Sat, 16 May 2009 05:59:02 GMT

we are born with a lack of knowledge but does not mean we have to turn to a class of morons. we left the caves looking for knowledge. the sky is still a search in that direction. the more we look the more we see that may some day save all of us an our future

Why space repairs aren't easy

George — Sat, 16 May 2009 06:00:01 GMT

We are scheduled to send a manned mission to Mars by 2037 with the new Orion program.

Why space repairs aren't easy

Adam, College Station, TX — Sat, 16 May 2009 06:32:33 GMT

I don't support government waste of money. So let's go after AIG for the $150B bailout, Fannie Mae for the $100B bailout, Freddie Mac for the $80B bailout and General Motors for the $14.5B bailout.

Repairing and improving Hubble, one of the most important scientific instruments of all time, cost less than 1% of what was given to already-rich executives. How's that for perspective?

Why space repairs aren't easy

Dave Berlin NJ — Sat, 16 May 2009 06:49:53 GMT

Just some of the benefits of the space program.. http://techtran.msfc.nasa.gov/at_home.html Doug from Chicago, are you kidding? They are all PHD's because they are experts at what they do. The fact that they took 8 years of college doesn't mean they can't be excellent at mechanics. If fact you can be certain they are among the cream of the crop. They wouldn't have the job if they weren't.

Why space repairs aren't easy

vince vines — Sat, 16 May 2009 07:24:48 GMT

People are right! It would be vastly cheaper to replace the Hubble with new high tech stuff- BUT- by remodeling the thing it costs three times moe and emplys many more aero space contractors who are paid very well! It is the NASA way friends as it is inthe defesnse dept! Spread the wealth man!!! Replacing it is to easy, cost productive etc! Just keep the pay rolls rolling and not mess the bloated fat laden system up... Now I have vented and at 2 am. can sleep,zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Why space repairs aren't easy

Aleksas Apynys, Vilnius, Lithuania — Sat, 16 May 2009 08:41:25 GMT

When one sees the video of American astronauts doing this kind of work, it's very uplifting, ( no pun intended ) It makes you wonder GM can't design a decent car anymore...

Why space repairs aren't easy

Jeff, Syracuse,NY — Sat, 16 May 2009 11:41:52 GMT

The economy is in the toilet and the government is worried about space. Does anyone else see a problem with this? As far as sending shuttles to Mars and other useless, worthless and extremely expensive ventures into space I think its time the government pulled the plug on NASA except the launching of satellites.
The space race is over and quite frankly who really cares if there was life on Mars or any other planet. If you cut the NASA program think of the billions of dollars the taxpayers would save by not creating usless space missions.

Why space repairs aren't easy

Frank Weigert, Wilmington, DE — Sat, 16 May 2009 12:02:56 GMT

Here are some possible answers to questions posed by previous contributors.

Mark, Seattle WA (Sent Friday, May 15, 2009 8:09 PM)
Velcro and Mylar are not NASA inventions. Mylar is the same chemical as Dacron, Dupont tradenames for poly(ethylene terephthalte) film and fibers respectively. Both predate the space program. NASA didn't invent Tang either. Spin-offs are great, but they can't justify the primary mission. War also generates civilian spin-offs. Jet airplanes and nuclear power come to mind. A different goal would have produced a different set of useful products.

The original idea of having a repairable telescope was predicated on cheap shuttle flights to effect the repairs. That didn't happen. None of the other Great Observatories is repairable.

Charles, Willis MI (Sent Friday, May 15, 2009 10:32 PM)
The Web did come from a Big Science program, but it wasn't NASA. The basic idea came from CERN in Europe as a way for scientists to more conveniently exchange data.

Max Potosme, West Palm Beach, Fl (Sent Friday, May 15, 2009 11:26)
The shuttle and everything in its orbit is speeding along at roughly five miles per second relative to earth's surface. Earth is moving around the sun, the sun is orbiting the galaxy and the galaxy is moving relative to the cosmic microwave background. The only thing that matters to the astronauts repairing the telescope is their relative velocity. And that is ZERO.

Stephen, Edmonton, Alberta (Sent Friday, May 15, 2009 11:41 PM)
The reason we don't bring it back down to repair it is that the shuttle wasn't designed to LAND with such a heavy instrument in its cargo bay.

Our entire society is now geared to producing defective products at the lowest possible cost. What NASA procures is no exception. Until as a society we value competence again, expensive testing will be required to insure that mission critical devices work. And the tests don't always find the problems. Remember Hubble's initial flawed mirror and the antenna on Galileo that didn't deploy properly and reduced the data return by 99%.

Why space repairs aren't easy

Inola Barrett, Westmoreland,Ja — Sat, 16 May 2009 12:14:23 GMT

In everything you do in life there is going to be a cost. Fixing the hubble should be a plus since we will be informed of what is taking place outside of planet earth. I hope that mission will be accomplished.

Why space repairs aren't easy

SpaceTas — Sat, 16 May 2009 12:35:42 GMT

Apparently, doing repairs in space is worse than wearing oven mitts. The gloves are puffed up by the inside pressure, so the astronauts must work against the gloves. I am thinking of old dried up old leather padded ski gloves.

Why space repairs aren't easy

Chuck Staples — Sat, 16 May 2009 12:49:01 GMT

Mr. Mapes has no imagination. Living in a world that only did the "prudent" would just make us [M]apes.

Why space repairs aren't easy

Curtis Parham — Sat, 16 May 2009 12:55:16 GMT

I lived in Czech Rep for 10 years and was fortunate to visit with Drew Feustel, when he came to visit wife's family. If the rest of the Astronauts are only 1/2 as nice as he is, NASA is in GREAT shape. My faith in "government" is partially restored.

Why space repairs aren't easy

Knotheads at NASA — Sat, 16 May 2009 13:10:06 GMT

new panel didn't fit ?? Must be the gearheads forgot to convert from English to Metric.... AGAIN !!!

Why space repairs aren't easy

Frank Klepeiss — Sat, 16 May 2009 13:19:24 GMT

Without space exploration we would never have spotted the growing hole in the ozone layer over antarctica. We would not have realized that freon gases were the cause of the destuction of our protective layer from radiation from space until it was to late. Yes space exploration has its place I only wish it were less expensive. The way were going with the space program now is redundent and depressing the space station is a total waste of resources that money would have been better spent on devising faster propulsion systems. I do like the hubble space telescope one of NASA finest accomplisments there is so much out there to be seen and discovered its a shame none of us will ever live long enough to see men landing on other planets after all its been nearly a hlf century since mankind allegedly set foot on the moon.

Why space repairs aren't easy

Eric, Salinas, CA — Sat, 16 May 2009 13:25:34 GMT

Most timely and excellent article Alan! I've been enjoying the show on NASA tv wathcing the astronauts do the repair work. While they move slowly it still is riveting to watch them use the power tool to unscrew and screw screws. Some great pictures of them doing the work and it is interesting as heck when they run into porblems and then have to figure out how to get around each new problem.

Space exploration is not a waste of money as the future of humanity will be to move out into space to find new habitable planets that aren't in our solar system. We'll need to colonize Mars to keep from being burned up when the sun expands a long time from now. Nope we're laying the groundwork now for humanity's future in space and we must make the investment now in order for future generations to build upon it.

Support Hubble!
Support Space Exploration!

Why space repairs aren't easy

micheleisfree, New Port Richey, FL — Sat, 16 May 2009 13:38:21 GMT

Those of you hyped on manned space travel are pretty undereducated. There is an entire host of reasons--straight from NASA--why we can't go to Mars, reasons we cannot surmount with our current state of technology. Cosmic radiation, the mere psychology of humans in a space capsule for a year and a half, the inability to move heavy equipment into space, etc.

This world needs to come to peace before we venture out into space or we're just seeding the universe with war-like a**holes. We need money to fix the problems on Earth, not dig into space.

We have to become better people before we spread into space.

Why space repairs aren't easy

John — Sat, 16 May 2009 13:44:11 GMT

Hubble is the most important instrument mankind has ever made. As far as space travel to another habitable planet, I doubt that will ever happen, even if mankind somehow finds a way to travel near the speed of light. Space is just so amazingly large. I am guessing it's at least a one-in-a-million shot that mankind could ever successfully find, travel to and inhabit another inhabitable planet than earth.

Why space repairs aren't easy

JR Spacewalker — Sat, 16 May 2009 14:03:07 GMT

Without a sense of wonder humans can not evolve.Open your minds get out of your cave and explore the wonders of this vast universe we live in.The future belongs to those who seek knowledge instead of moneytary value.Open your minds and evolve into the future.

Why space repairs aren't easy

Brendan, Coralville, IA — Sat, 16 May 2009 14:04:53 GMT

When it comes to return on investment, perhaps we should be focusing on robotics for space exploration for some time to come.

The further from earth we travel, the longer the communications time-lag, the more we need machines that can make complex decisions on their own. The more hostile the environment it operates in, the tougher and more adaptable hardware has to be. Consider the challenge of developing machines and materials with the ability to repair themselves. Creating robots to explore Mars was a great achievment. Building robots that could explore Jupiter's moon Io, with its hundreds of active volcanos, or survive to travel over the surface of Venus - those are challenges of an entirely different order.

Surely the scientific and technological payback from developing such tools and testing them in space would justify the cost of the space program through earthly applications. And that's without even considering what we would learn about the what's out there.

Emphasis on robotic missions won't preclude eventual manned missions. But technology developed for robotic exploration will increase the value and decrease the risks of any manned missions. Using anything like current technology, manned exploration of solar real estate is limited to the Moon and maybe Mars. Robots can go where no man can go without getting squished, fried or flash frozen. Go R2D2.

Why space repairs aren't easy

Tom Jones, Oklahoma City, OK — Sat, 16 May 2009 14:13:24 GMT

The critics of space exploration always talk about how many lives we could save here on earth with the (actually rather small) budgets expended and ask what is the point of going where no man has gone before. What is the point of endlessly staying in one place and fighting your neighbors for the dwindling resources of this planet? What was more imaginative and braver and wiser, the barely human ancestors that risked walking out of Africa or the ones that stayed safely in their cave waiting to become extinct in the next drought? Without giving them courage and hope what is the point of spending that money on the poor here on earth, for what purpose? Even some of the poorest people celebrated when one of their own kind walked on the moon for the first time, they felt instinctively that it was important to them. It was.

Why space repairs aren't easy

gary — Sat, 16 May 2009 14:23:53 GMT

Hey, instead of having the fix it crew go to the craft, why not have the hubble brought down to the ISS and be worked on there at leisure? A simple space tug could bring the bad sattellitte down to it and a work station garage can be made to make repairs, easier than going to the Hubble

Why space repairs aren't easy

rob kerrigan daugherty — Sat, 16 May 2009 14:25:07 GMT

I thought I read the hubble was to big to be retrieved from orbit. As far as space exploration I think that there is a good chance that man will discover an Earth-like planet and the means by which to travel there in the next few hundred years. Of course, this can only happen if our world can survive that long.

Why space repairs aren't easy

Charlie — Sat, 16 May 2009 14:36:36 GMT

The reason NASA spends so much money is "THEY ARE A GOVERNMENT AGENCY". Period. Leave their work to a private enterprise and it will cost 20-30% of what the lavishly spend. Just wait until they start working on the replacement for the shuttle. It will cost 50-75% more than what they ask. NASA should have its budget cut and forced to be mindful with spending.

Why space repairs aren't easy

Drifty — Sat, 16 May 2009 14:38:16 GMT

Ten billion investment? Where's the return!
What's an astronaut's salary? Spacebus driver, mechanic, electronics tech, scientist, cross-country diaper wearing crybaby, just do the job as best you can and chop, chop, we need that investment return for the deficit.
Looking for an inhabitable planet, you're on one. Unless of course you're a polar bear on a strict diet of penguin stuck on an ice cube somewhere north of Gore's global summer sun warming retreat.
Secure those rivits on some duct tape will you!
Special tools, design the parts needing to be repaired with simpler methods.
How about sending hubble up after its second lease of service? It's already out there, can't it be projected outward easier from its present orbit? Scientists? Policemen on manhole cover watch soon to retire on disability? Anyone?
Great pictures Hubble, eye candy anyway if nothing else.

Why space repairs aren't easy

ken Kimball, West Springfield, MA — Sat, 16 May 2009 14:59:45 GMT

The reference to the knob replacement at an exorbitant price is so true, but rewriting specs cost more than the part. It is a shame that government purchasing cannot be done on a common sense basis , without fear that some sleaze would exploit the lack of spending millions on specs to keep them honest.
Did you hear about the mailing tubes that cost a dollar each, but half that amount if in a toilet paper roll?

Why space repairs aren't easy

Josh, MO — Sat, 16 May 2009 15:01:40 GMT

I know the first thing a lot of conservatives jump on is the expense issue. Someone said it would have been cheaper to build a brand new telescope than all of the money spent on repair missions, I'd like to see the source behind that before I believe it any more than the boogie man in the closet. As far as nasa's entire budget, isn't it somewhere between 2 and 5 billion dollars a year? How much money did we spend in a single day in Iraq at the height of the war on terror, I think it was 5 or 10 billion right? In a single day. You can't say Nasa is a waste of money with those figures. You must be crazy if you think it's a waste of money. Nasa does more with 1 billion in new technologies researched, new scientists inspired for the new generations, and the future of our country in general than the war in Iraq will ever do for us(at the current price tag the war has, anyway.)

Why space repairs aren't easy

Roy Fritz. Butte, Mt — Sat, 16 May 2009 15:20:34 GMT

What is the best thing coming out of the hubble repair. Pride in our accomplishments in space. Feeding our desire for other planets to explore. Billions of $$$ spent on destroying the earth's atmosphere with all of the polution launching rockets into space. There is more pollution made in building and launching large rockets as the shuttle in one launch than the city of Denver pollutes in 5.4 years. So if we find another planet to live on will we destroy it as we are doing on our planet? We should use our knowledge to help our world before going elsewhere.

Why space repairs aren't easy

Johnny - WISE Va. — Sat, 16 May 2009 15:50:28 GMT

This dont make any sense at all look at this country people need work to feed there familes places to live !! I guess we need to take care of the Aliens first. Feed The Little Green Men

Why space repairs aren't easy

Jon Mapes — Sat, 16 May 2009 16:07:59 GMT

Wow! Pretty amazing how much conversation has been started by this topic. If anyone is still paying attention, I'd like to clarify a couple things. First of all, I an not against space exploration. I think it's great. However, after many years of following and supporting the space program, I have realized that "manned" exploration is not the way to go. There are no habitable planets within light years of us. Until we can overcome traveling at the speed of light or faster, we should spend NASA's budget on more affordable unmanned missions. Let's send all kinds of probes out to explore. I loved the Hubble and all the discoveries it's made, and I think the Mars rovers are an excellent example of cost effective exploration. What I object to is spending money to fix space toilets, at the cost of sending probes out. I'm not for cutting NASA's budget, just a shifting of priorities.

Why space repairs aren't easy

Joe Papierz, Deerfield, FL — Sat, 16 May 2009 16:43:50 GMT

I've always been amazed at the astronomical cost of producing tools for use in space.How many people are put on the job to design a given power screwdriver for instance? and how much are those people paid for their ideas and gadgets? I would love to see an accounting for exactly who the checks are written payable to and what the payment is for.

Why space repairs aren't easy

Frank Glover, Rochester, NY — Sat, 16 May 2009 18:29:00 GMT

"Why Space Repairs Aren't Easy??? Your Kidding me right? Do you want to know why they aren't easy? BECAUSE ITS OUTER- F&*$ing- SPACE!!!! I will never go to outer space..."

Okay, you're off the ship. Next?

"...and no one reading this article will ever go to outer space..."

Do speak for yourself.

"Much less try to work on a spaceship in the middle of outer space."

Probably not. I'm sure that, just as with airliners and cruise ships, if I ever can, it'll be as a passenger, not crew, when the technology gets cheap enough. I don't have the engineering talent, maintenance won't be my responsibility.

"That why its hard... They are in SPACE!!!"

Shout all you want, but it's still important to specify exactly *why* some (not all) things are harder 'in space.' You cannot hope to make it easier before identifying the problems,

People do tough repair/maintenance jobs on oil platforms (IT'S IN THE MIDDLE OF THE OCEAN!), deep underwater (IT'S ON THE SEA FLOOR!), in the polar lattitudes (IT'S IN THE FRIGGIN' ARCTIC!) and elsewhere, every day.

Don't you understand that they do months of neutral buoyancy pre-mission practice, and learn from the experience of everyone since the first space walk? (including previous Hubble repairs/upgrades...this is the last one, but by no means the first one)

We all know it's tough. But only *you* seem to be surprised.

Why space repairs aren't easy

Frank Glover, Rochester, NY — Sat, 16 May 2009 18:37:11 GMT

"The economy is in the toilet and the government is worried about space. Does anyone else see a problem with this? As far as sending shuttles to Mars..."

The space shuttle cannot (and was never meant to) go beyond Low Earth Orbit.

"...and other useless, worthless and extremely expensive ventures into space I think its time the government pulled the plug on NASA except the launching of satellites."

Um, the Hubble Space telescope *is* a satellite. (And whenever it's in orbit, so is a shuttle orbiter)

"The space race is over...."

It was never *entirely* about beating the Soviets/Russians...

"...and quite frankly who really cares if there was life on Mars or any other planet."

(shrug) It's clear that you do not.

"If you cut the NASA program think of the billions of dollars the taxpayers would save by not creating usless space missions."

Yes, Six-tenths of one cent from each of my tax dollars might come back to me. I'll try not to spend it all in one place...

Why space repairs aren't easy

Barry, Indpls — Sat, 16 May 2009 18:38:27 GMT

One very interesting consequence of the space program in the late 1950s and '60s was the development and manufacture of the mass produced integrated circuit. While NASA didn't invent or first start utilizing the new devices, it did kick start the industry buy quantity buying and making economy of scale possible for their production. The space race one important factor in our current technological society.

Why space repairs aren't easy

Larry Combs, Cincinnati, Ohio — Sat, 16 May 2009 18:41:17 GMT

After reading the article, I found some of the posters seem to have missed the points (such as the gasket missing after 100 screws are put back in.... the article says they will have two clamps now). One of the points I do not see mentioned to the usefulness of space exploration is a study done on the atmosphere of mars being able to be turned into highly potent rocket fuel. This world is almost out of fossil fuels, if we were able to start a system of converting and transporting this fuel to earth or a orbiting station (a small production unit is already on mars) it would change our entire world. My own personal Thoughts about production of large energy producing solar panels combined with wireless power transfer not transform how we power everything not to mention being extremely "Green".

How can the advantages of expanded knowledge and possibilities that so directly relate to humanity as a whole not be one of our main goals? Perhaps people who can not understand these advantages should accept that others have a different perspective and abilities to do things that the arguers can not conceive.

To those that have not the capacity to make intelligent input or skill to add.... Please do not get in the way of those that have skills to achieve higher minded goals.

Why space repairs aren't easy

Frank Glover, Rochester, NY — Sat, 16 May 2009 18:48:13 GMT

"Hey, instead of having the fix it crew go to the craft, why not have the hubble brought down to the ISS and be worked on there at leisure? A simple space tug could bring the bad sattellitte down to it and a work station garage can be made to make repairs, easier than going to the Hubble"

There's no large pressurized enclosure at ISS. Even if you went to all that trouble, you'd *still* have to work on it in vacuum, in the open, in spacesuits.

Though the idea of doing other kinds of orbital assembly/repair at a space station is perfectly sound, but you must design all that in from the beginning. That you can do *any* work on Hubble attests to the fact that it was designed with orbital maintenance in mind and the Shuttle or something like it, would be available to get them there with replacement parts (though there were some portions of HST it was assumed that astronauts would *never* have to get to...that, clearly was incorrect, yet they're handling it)

Why space repairs aren't easy

Robo - Camano Island, Wa — Sat, 16 May 2009 18:53:13 GMT

It was once stated that the "world is flat" but there were those inquisitive minds that sought answers and truth. In the context of time, it wasn't very long ago that some were executed for such blasphemy.

Without the imagination, inspiration, determination, ingenuity and fundings from private investors, royalty, and government, explorers such as Christopher Columbus, Ferdinand de Magellan, and Marco Polo would have never been able to share their insightful adventures. Consider the consequences if such people had not been given the opportunity. We teach these rich experiences to our children for a reason.

Even today, there are still those who lack imagination and condemn others for attempting to explore the unknown. Imagine if we gave in to such thoughtless ramble, what a boring existence it would be.

I look forward to learning what unknown wonders will be discovered as I'm sure many others do.

Why space repairs aren't easy

Ed Herrington, Atlanta, GA — Sat, 16 May 2009 19:09:39 GMT

There are those who say the Hubble repair is a political stunt only and that the telescope should have been replaced because it's cheaper than sending men into space. I say "not so!" We cannot go backwwards because others are not. The Chinese are planning a maned moon landing. The future is and always will be manned space flight with robots "helping out" only.

Why space repairs aren't easy

Brian P Fussmucker — Sat, 16 May 2009 19:40:37 GMT

"Neanderthals of the previous administration?" The Previous administration planned this mission. And approved this administration. The Obama Administration would rather run GM than help NASA.

Why space repairs aren't easy

Thomas Ashby, Calgary — Sat, 16 May 2009 19:45:03 GMT

Frank Glover: what a volley ! "People do tough repair/maintenance jobs on oil platforms (IT'S IN THE MIDDLE OF THE OCEAN!), deep underwater (IT'S ON THE SEA FLOOR!), in the polar lattitudes (IT'S IN THE FRIGGIN' ARCTIC!) and elsewhere, every day."

LMAO !

I see that all wasn't perfect on the HST afterall. Things did get out of alignment and got stuck. Luckily it was worked through. I hope it's a perfect mission when all is said and done.

Why space repairs aren't easy

Ron Shevuah, Seattle, Wa. — Sat, 16 May 2009 20:35:14 GMT

Hello Mr. Billy Bob: I think I understand your point about magnets; why not just use magnets to round up all the loose screws? Because, I believe (correct me), the screws used in space hardware would be made of Titanium, and therefore not magnetic...so, they have think up some other way.
As for the million dollar power tools, I'm thinking that's chicken feed. Back in the mid 80's, Gillette spent (if memory serves me) about 300 million bucks to develop the new Sensor razor--much of that went to developing high-speed welding lasers that would join small blades to very small springs, on a high-speed assembly line. But the Sensor was a commercial success, even though (after inflation) it would cost at least a billion now. Essentially, they created a new manufacturing capability, and we all benefit with having cool, inexpensive gadgets that do things that nothing else ever did before. The same for NASA's investment, which is our tax money: we're paying a lot of development costs, and generally private industry receives the new technology without having to compensate the government. But we all benefit anyway; Black and Decker (for example) will be able to sell us new tools in a couple years that do things that tools never did before, at ANY price. Do you like living in a high civilization? Me too; we just have to pay for it.
I think the cost of a single shuttle mission is about half a billion bucks; the cost of replacement of the Hubble (after inflation) could run, say, 5 billion--and we get about 5 more years of usable life(and greatly increased capabilities) from this one mission. So, I think it's worth it.
When I was in grade school (the sixties), the books in our library only had a few sentences of information about, for example, the planet Neptune. That's all that was known about it at the time. Now there's a great deal of information, because we bit the bullet, bought the hardware, and made some new knowledge. How unfortunate it would be, if that investment hadn't been made? If you want more knowledge, you have to pay for it.

Why space repairs aren't easy

tom, los angeles, ca — Sat, 16 May 2009 21:16:04 GMT

how about a shuttle mission specifically and only to clean up all the orbiting space junk we've left up there?

Why space repairs aren't easy

Jack Haesly, Austin, Texas — Sat, 16 May 2009 22:53:15 GMT

The progress that has been made in space exploration no matter how one looks at the program, in a word, have been grand.
However, for the foreseeable future, due to the fragility of the human body and it's earth bound limitations, we have just about come to the end of our venture into space as far as space travel is concerned.
To circle the globe three hundred and twenty-five miles out in space for a few days or weeks is one thing. To spend light years venturing to the nearest habitable rock is quite another. In my opinion, the cost far outweighs any benefit to be gleened from the attempt.
The photographic and scientific results from the technology of the Hubble telescope have been spectacular. However, because earthlings are so fragile and live such very short lives relative to light year space travel, I predict we will never be able to sustain permanent bases on any of the closest habitable planet earth equivalents.
When Hubble, is once again back in service, it will wthout question continue to add to our understanding of the physics of space. In that regard, we probably have discovered little up to now, compared to what might be revealed in the future.
Again however, regardless of what we discover about space, going forward, we will never be able to survive for the long term as a species if we leave our environment and our beloved home...earth.

Why space repairs aren't easy

Marvin Woody — Sat, 16 May 2009 23:00:41 GMT

Reading comments from some: We'll never reach another planet, its a waste of money etc. Poo! My dear old granddad used to say "If God had meant for man to fly, He'd of given us wings!" (He was born in 1878) Man will reach other worlds OR man will become extinct. Got that? As an aside; Don't ever work on machinery or hook up bungie cords without safety glasses. I have a one eyed neighbor because of the bungie cord!

Why space repairs aren't easy

Ben,Dallas,Tx. — Sat, 16 May 2009 23:36:28 GMT

The Speed Of This Fix Is 17,500 Miles Per Hour.That's COOL.

Why space repairs aren't easy

Mike the Mechanic Columbus Ohio — Sun, 17 May 2009 00:05:19 GMT

You have to hand it to the human race for thinking our way to space. But, as an un-educated auto mechanic, they could of paid me 10 million dollars and I would of told them to use levers instead of screws. 100 potentially disasterous screws to remove a few parts that could have been levered on like the headlight bulb in my motorcycle, with large levers so the ovenmitt gloves could operate them. They should of just paid me to look at it before they sent it up into space. As an auto mechanic, I can honestly tell you that engineers don't fix the stuff they design. If they design. (ever taken an engine out to replace a 40 dollar part?).

Why space repairs aren't easy

John Maguire, Petaluma, CA — Sun, 17 May 2009 00:43:14 GMT

Those who complain that NASA is a waste of money are not thinking about where the money goes. Most, if not all, of the work is done right here in the USA. The thousands of people working for the program or a sub-contractor ends up with hard earned money to re-invest in groceries, TVs, cars, toys, medicine, homes, vacations, and taxes. Our investment in the space program keeps many folks occupied doing something they love and in return, they will re-distribute money all over the place. NASA IS the stuff that is made in the USA.

Why space repairs aren't easy

Frank Glover, Rochester, NY — Sun, 17 May 2009 01:44:37 GMT

"how about a shuttle mission specifically and only to clean up all the orbiting space junk we've left up there?"

That which we collectively refer to as 'space junk' and 'orbital debris' consists of literally thousands of objects, from fairly large, intact but dead satellites (many of which don't *belong* to the US...the owners must be part of this, too), to fragments of various kinds (often from exploded upper stages, whose remaining propellant and oxidizers leak past their seals weeks/years after use [good designers now make it possible to vent them]) to stuff as innocent as peeling paint (a high speed fleck of paint once caused tiny but visible damage to a window on Challenger).

And all this stuff is in orbits of various altitudes (much of it higher than the Shuttle can possibly go), various orbital inclinations. (If it were all in one convenient place, it would be vastly easier to reclaim or at least avoid.)

And you'd have to carefully match velocities with with every bit of it, each time, or it'll be an impact hazard to *you.*

*A* Shuttle mission can't do this, any more than one pickup truck (on one tank of gas, no less) can hope to pick up all litter (all the way from abandoned cars down to cigarette butts) in, say, Texas or California...

Why space repairs aren't easy

Luke, Boston, MA — Sun, 17 May 2009 02:37:35 GMT

Re Mr. Mapes:
Just because we haven't found an inhabitable planet does not at all mean that one is not out there. Our most effective planet detection technique works best for large planets whose gravitational fields cause a measurable 'wobble' by the star they orbit. Such planets are generally gas giants, by definition uninhabitable.
Also, as to the comment that it would be cheaper to build a new Hubble-- you must be kidding. A new Hubble would probably cost over $50B (the current Hubble cost $36B, which would be significantly more after inflation).

Why space repairs aren't easy

D.J. tetonia Idaho — Sun, 17 May 2009 03:57:39 GMT

Interesting, discussion, occurred to me that there are few homes worldwide that don't have some sort of velcro closer somewhere in it. To say space exploration is a waste is short-sighted and sad.how will we find out, what is out there, without an instrument that can get good pictures I think the telescope is a bargin compared to deploying manned space craft.I worry about the damaged tiles on the orbiter though, are the same people that sent the unuseable gyros incharge of giving the thumbs up on re-entry?

Why space repairs aren't easy

Alfonso Perez-Palma, Miami, Florida — Sun, 17 May 2009 10:37:24 GMT

Humanity NEEDS to go to another planets, if we continue at the same growth rate that we are growing now; in 200 years we will run out of space to grow food, and NASA has been working to find us places to go, If we wait 200 years until we run out of resources and then we try to find another place to go we will be worst than spending the money now, NASA has the vision and it is working on making it happend. When our great grand children find another planet to live they will remember these unbelivable talented and courageos astronauts that found a way to do repairs up there, Remeber when the earth used to be flat and the ocean just fell off the edge?, it is the same mental shortsightneess that make some people say we will never go anywhere. If we are to survive as a species, we NEED to go to space

Why space repairs aren't easy

jjsjjsva — Sun, 17 May 2009 11:29:56 GMT

We have the perfect planet to live on and we as a race are destroying it, so our solution is to find a dead planet, bring it to life, and live happily ever after? The End! Nice fairy tale.

Why space repairs aren't easy

Jim Allen — Sun, 17 May 2009 12:04:33 GMT

Opinions are like anal orifices. Everyone has one.

Unfortunately, the same thinking that led us to believe that having Halliburton run the war in Iraq was a great investment seems to think that Space Exploration is a waste. That is pure stupidity. It used to be that for every dollar you spend on war you, you got two dollars back in economic stimulus. Much of that came from the multiplier effect rather than in direct investment. Iraq has proven that concept is outdated since now we not only get 50 cents on the dollar for warfare with 10 cents on the dollar going to Halliburton and other “contractors” and 40 cents going to pure waste and corruption. However, although the return takes longer, every dollar spent on “education” (which may include feeding and providing medical care so that children CAN learn) has a return of $5 on the investment. And every dollar spent on pure research has a return of $10, except that you can’t always be sure which dollar is going to be the payoff. (Some dollars return $100 to society.)

Even if we never find life on any other planet, or every set foot outside of our solar system, the benefit that technology has provided for our culture should be beyond reproach, even if that technology tells us what NOT to do (such as have lead in paint). (As an example, removing lead from paint and gasoline seems to have correlated to an increase in the average IQ in the US of 10 points in the following decade, in addition to the immediate medical problems that were avoided.) While you can’t see the return on the investment for every dollar (or millions of dollars) spent on NASA, learning how to “do things better” in the hostile climate of space HAS returned to our technological society millions of dollars for every dollar spent.

It also has had a cultural benefit beyond hardware.

Seeing what the galaxy looked like 14 BILLION years ago makes it very difficult for religious fundamentalists to insist that the earth literally is less than 6000 years old or that dinosaurs are an illusion. It has allowed us to do a computer analysis of the Bible that proves that it was a work compiled by a committee with much of it being a work of “creative fiction” by people who never took, let alone passed, a college course in physics. That does NOT demean the cultural and empirical wisdom of the Bible. It just means that the people who compiled it were a lot smarter than the illiterate people (then AND now) who they were preaching to.

That does not mean we can abuse the environment. The best use of technology is in helping us optimize our use the environment for the benefit of all people, since optimum wealth comes from maximum consumption of goods (because of the multiplier effect) rather than maximum production. (That is why “trickle up” economics works better than “trickle down” regardless of the fact that those who write the laws and control short term economics always favor “trickle down” because they get “trickled” first.)

And it doesn’t mean that war is not necessary even though it is now a “poor investment.” When you have a culture based upon illiteracy that views your use of technology as a threat to its survival and are trying to destroy you because of their beliefs, the only option available is to destroy that culture and the fundamentalists who promote it. That destruction is not only empirical wisdom, but it is the explanation as to why certain cultures were destroyed when the former Egyptian slaves crossed over the Jordan River to conquer the “Land of Canaan.”

And by the way, even though I want to say that “space is cool” which is why we need to have people go there, being “cool” is not the primary reason. It is essential for the cultural and economic growth of our plant that we do as much as we can and push as far as we can to put representatives of humanity into outer space. Without that growth and challenge, unlike the dinosaurs that were killed by a meteorite, it will be our own myopia and stupidity that will kill the human race.

Why space repairs aren't easy

Perilune Rutland, VT — Sun, 17 May 2009 12:47:18 GMT

Space exploration is the legendary "far horizon" that inspires us to think beyond boundries, reach for the impossible, learn to adapt even more, and sets the sites of younger generations on the highest bar. On the way to space many fine scientists, mathematicians, engineers, and leaders become major contributors to society; for which we all benefit. Space may be the goal, but educated, courageous, and passionate thinkers are the prize.

Why space repairs aren't easy

Dee Bunk, Houston TX — Sun, 17 May 2009 13:15:50 GMT

To the benefit of everybody, you probably need to explain that Zero-G is an oxymoron though admittedly accepted as a result of repetitive use in the language. There is gravity in outer space. The space shuttle, space station, satellites and all the other objects in orbit around Earth or any other space object for that matter are constantly "falling." That is the main reason for the apparent lack of gravity.

Why space repairs aren't easy

Charles Parkinson, Savannah, Georgia — Sun, 17 May 2009 14:20:34 GMT

Having been born in 1936 I have been fortunate to observe the quantum leap(s) that have taken place over a 70 year period.
The 20th century was without doubt the most productive in mankinds' history in terms of technology due largely to WWI and WWII followed by outer space programs that were directed at both weapons development and peaceful applications such as Hubbell.
Was it (is it?) (will it) be worth the cost. You betcha Red Ryder.

Why space repairs aren't easy

Drifty — Sun, 17 May 2009 15:07:52 GMT

The total cost will be 1 Hubble bubble Eric.
MikeTM we can't afford your 10 million, we let AIG have it. Thanks for the offer if we should find a fit we'll be sure to hire you back, less the cost of the screwdriver we provide, of course.
Correct me if I'm wrong but it wasn't ever intended to be repaired in the first place.
So let's call it a success, read all about Neptune at Ron's library, consider ourselves 1 in 2 or 3 billion in need of gravity, air, and waterand enjoy our unique to the universe view of this side of the moon when weather permits.
Foible, foible, toil and Hubble

Why space repairs aren't easy

David, Port Jefferson, NY — Sun, 17 May 2009 15:16:00 GMT

Useful resources for those who wonder on the merits of space exploration:

G. Harry Stine: The 3rd industrial revolution
Ben Bova: The High Road
and an excellent work of Utopian fiction:
Kim Stanley Robinson's Mars trilogy

Stine's book points out that essentially all earthbound technology is based on a dozen or so industrial processes. There are 50 or 60 industrial processes available in space that aren't available on earth. The possible permutations are mind boggling but will take many decades to explore. Space elevator technology is feasible and will be far more revolutionary than the trans-continental railroad.

The type of folks who oppose space exploration are the same types who oppose dreamers of every generation. Yes, we need to work on current problems but if we do not pursue dreams we are throwing away our future.

Why space repairs aren't easy

Morty D, Dayton Ohio — Sun, 17 May 2009 15:27:04 GMT

Space, the final frontier . . .

. . . Live long and prosper. =)

Why space repairs aren't easy

Dave Port Townsend, WA — Sun, 17 May 2009 15:43:59 GMT

Healthy debate and commentary going on here. I just read an article about the most important election in 25years and there were exactly two comments submitted! Now, I'm going out to change the alternater brushes on a 30year old BMW motorbike. Requires $10 dollar tools and priceless profanities!

Why space repairs aren't easy

Dennis, Richmond VA — Sun, 17 May 2009 15:49:44 GMT

Manned Space Exploration... Sometimes it breaks my heart to realize that there really are so many people out there who think it's a waste of time and money. Folks who think the Earth would be better served if we just stayed home and focused on fixing our problems here before venturing forth.

But if you look long term, I mean REALLY long term, the Earth is only temporary. Sure, it's pretty nice right now, but we have been living in a very stable time, perhaps the most stable our world will ever be. It will end someday, and eventually the world we call home will burn and melt in the face of our dying sun.

Nowhere to go? Space is HUGE. And it's the ONLY direction we CAN go if our species is to survive, to matter at all in the grand scheme of things. If we just sit here, working out our problems, and never move beyond our one little egg basket, we end. We become nothing, and nothing we ever did will matter.

We must learn to walk among the stars, to make new homes, and we must challenge the very universe itself, or we must cease to exist.

Why space repairs aren't easy

Thomas Ashby, Calgary — Sun, 17 May 2009 16:19:20 GMT

Watching the problems trying to remove the hex screws you get a real sense that failing to replace COS may be real. They are working in complete dark and the temperature is some -200 degrees C probably. I was thinking since the problem is with stuck screws, why not wait until the sunlit side of the earth warms them up? But there is no way to talk to them to ask about this idea.

Why space repairs aren't easy

Bette Richards, Tucson, AZ — Sun, 17 May 2009 16:48:10 GMT

No one mentions the jobs NASA programs create here on good old earth. How many people would be standing in the unemployment and welfare lines if NASA just shut down? Isn't that also a benefit? How many of these super talented inventors and innovators would be unemployed with their brains being under-used to make this place a better world to live in if there were no NASA program? Would you prefer to see them pouring asphalt on the potholes in our roads?

Why space repairs aren't easy

Richie North Hills CA — Sun, 17 May 2009 17:35:48 GMT

lol. We don't even know whats at the bottom of our oceans nor the center of the Earth. Butt hey, let's run up to space like we belong there! lol. I agree with space exploration...AFTER we become a Type I civilization, which we are far from. www.thevenusproject.com

Why space repairs aren't easy

Edward George, Seattle, Wash — Sun, 17 May 2009 18:38:43 GMT

All that creative energy has been switched to devising financial gimmicks. Do you think the financial services industry will be able to come up with the right tools to do the environmental replacements we need?

Why space repairs aren't easy

Jeanrobert, Buford, GA — Sun, 17 May 2009 18:47:45 GMT

Most people could not repair the hubble space telescope on earth.

Why space repairs aren't easy

Dan Elliott Jr. San Jose, CA — Sun, 17 May 2009 19:07:16 GMT

Okay, I have an idea. Instead of sending astronauts up there to do this stuff, let's get someone who has a worn, grease-stained copy of John Muir's epic work, 'How To Keep Your Volkswagen Alive'.

The right person in the right place is always the best, you know?

Why space repairs aren't easy

R. B. Chandler — Sun, 17 May 2009 19:36:11 GMT

For those who think that our investment in space exploration is a waste of money. You have no clue as to how much of the technology you enjoy today has been impacted by our desire to go where no one has gone before. Yes, we have spent billions on our space program, but the journey has been worth it 10 times over. War is a terrible waste of money. We could be building cities on the moon for the price tag of our current military endeavors and still have money left over to help clean up the planet. The money for space exploration is barely a drop in the bucket. The price for fixing the Hubble Space Telescope, $1,000,000,000 (cheaper than building a new one). The knowledge gained and the technology developed along the way, priceless.

Why space repairs aren't easy

Frank Glover, Rochester, NY — Sun, 17 May 2009 20:01:41 GMT

"We have the perfect planet to live on and we as a race are destroying it, so our solution is to find a dead planet, bring it to life, and live happily ever after? The End! Nice fairy tale."

No, we try to fix what's wrong here *while* some small percentage of us learn to live on other worlds. It's not a 'solution' it's what we as a species just *do.*

Europe wasn't perfect before some people left it for North America (indeed, some left *because* certain things were wrong...political/religious persecution, potato blights, better business opportunities etc.), some will migrate off-world for their own reasons, when it becomes practical.

Remember, humans originated in east central Africa. It could be argued that our history has been nothing *but* migration. Given the means, there's no reason to think it'll stop now...

(Oh, and planets don't have to be 'living' to be useful, either. Our history has also been nothing but survival with technology. Even where I sit in upstate NY, survival would be much more challenging without the electricity, plumbing, sewer systems, central heating, etc. [especially in the winter] that I know not to take for granted. I'm amazed the Eskimo/Inuit peoples have functioned in the polar latitudes for millennia in places that look pretty nearly 'dead' to me. Yet, they do. A place doesn't have to be a Garden of Eden, for some people to be willing and able to make it their home. And here you are, like it or not, right at the very earliest days of the next wave of human migration...)

Why space repairs aren't easy

Bob McLovin, badland, SD — Sun, 17 May 2009 20:51:38 GMT

If you're referring to the New Beetle, I concur..But this VW part is a result of Mexican engineering as opposed to, well you get the picture......I wonder what would happen if you tried to palm slam Hubble's gyroscope into place like that annoying headlight assembly?

Why space repairs aren't easy

Roland, Silicon Valley, Calif — Sun, 17 May 2009 22:04:25 GMT

I have often wondered if anyone really knows how many inventions have come out of the space program. Being developed with public funding makes them available to the public for free, so remember that those inventions belong to the people. I remember when I had to wax my car at least every three months and today virtually no one does. Modern paints came from the space program. As for better use of the money, with space investments, scientists (NASA) have a goal and fight for the public funding to achieve that goal just like every one else. But the knowledge gained directly or indirectly from those goals is what is squandered. Take global warming, scientists gave warning of the threat 20 or 30 years ago and continue it warnings but politicians world wide chose to ignore them until it became too obvious to ignore. Now the general public is needing to be educated. It will take another 25-50 years to stop all the things that effect global warming. My guess is that European countries are doing more to relieve the global warming problem than the US is, but people in the US think that they are in the lead. We might as well spend some money on achievable goals as all the earthly ones, while noble, are really controlled by too many people and too many politicians, including wars, have no goals, nothing to measure, and will go on forever with no way to determine if we ever achieved anything. I would rather my money went into outer space.

Why space repairs aren't easy

Mike APO — Sun, 17 May 2009 22:14:35 GMT

Peter Pan...What pulled the US out of the Great Depression? The Second World War that's what. What two things can consume vast sums of money, provide technological development and, oh yeah, create and provide lots of jobs both in the high tech arena and the not-so-high tech arena? War and the Space Program that's what! Personally I would rather see the Space Program fully supported and funded as it can provide all that without folks having to die. Yeah development costs are high and we should work to keep them as low as possible but what would you rather do? Provide lots of satisfying jobs for people or give them handouts which they will hate you for, at least those that have some self-respect will. The rest are just leaches and would be happier not having to work in the first place and would gladly take your handouts. Those people are of no use anyway.

Why space repairs aren't easy

Steve Scheufler — Sun, 17 May 2009 22:24:07 GMT

There seems to be a lot of Old-fashioned (ho-hum) US- technology bashing here. It's positively Retrograde,it's so 60's. (That defines it as both fashionable & politician-popular--the PC form of Negativism.)
1)"Face it folks, manned spaceflight is a titanic waste of money." Jon--One word: velcro. Two words: medical sensors. Three words: *my* implanted Pacemaker. (Yeah, you wish you had one...eat your heart out . . .:-))
2)"These sort of 'space repairs' are nothing but political expenditures." What, and economic bail-outs are *less* expensive and/or *a*-political?
3)"Spend the money on trying to clean up our home." So...Reuse(over Recycling) isn't earth-friendly? ...Dumping it back into our atmosphere *is?*
4)"We are respected for one..." Alan--I'm confused. Which one do you mean, WWII or the (American) Civil one? :-) Which is it that earned us the best World opinion--opening up Concentration Camps holding Jews, or liberating Slaves of African descent?...After all, both involved being *hated* occupiers . . .

Why space repairs aren't easy

R.J. Johnson Los Angeles,CA — Sun, 17 May 2009 23:14:06 GMT

High Beam me up VW man.

Why space repairs aren't easy

John Archer, Louisville Ky — Sun, 17 May 2009 23:21:04 GMT

How amazing it is to me that we are talking about why we should or should not do this. Have you seen the pictures that we never had before Hubble? Instead of a blob of light in the sky, our eyes have been opened in a way that only God could see before now. Our imagination and our sense of place in the universe will forever be changed. To look through lenses at the universe before Hubble was like trying to see through fogged glass. Hubble can see things that the human eye could never see at different light wavelengths and has enabled us to not only see clearly for the first time in mankind’s history but to travel back into time and see within a few hundred million years after the universe was formed. Truly fascinating and mind boggling, how awesome it is to live in our time and be among the first humans to see our universe and think of something besides ourselves. Go NASA, stretch our minds and lay the path for the future of mankind to go where no man has gone before.

Why space repairs aren't easy

Todd Ghack - NY — Mon, 18 May 2009 04:06:53 GMT

"As an auto mechanic, I can honestly tell you......."

Would that be considered a oxymoronic statement???

Why space repairs aren't easy

Lawrence, Cleveland Ohio — Mon, 18 May 2009 07:50:43 GMT

I could be wrong but i heard the crafts up there are traveling around 37,000 MPH

[ALAN ADDS: The shuttle and Hubble fly at about 17,500 mph relative to Earth's surface.]

Why space repairs aren't easy

Data-Man, Berrien Springs, MI — Mon, 18 May 2009 10:27:49 GMT

I am saddened by both the number and the intensity of posts opposing space exploration as a waste of money. Perhaps many of these posters have not noticed how many of the things they use without thinking today have the roots of their existence in the efforts to explore space a generation ago. Exploring space isn't beneficial in a direct sense so much as it is a tool for focusing intellectual effort toward a common difficult goal. In this sense it is much like what an athlete does in preparing for the Olympic Games. All the practice doesn't produce much tangible return but the end result justifies the efforts.
The Apollo moon landings were very expensive, mostly for show, but did give us a whole lot of good science as a byproduct. However, of the two major projects this country involved itself in at that time (the 1960s) ask yourself which one has had more positive lasting impact (those would be moon landings and Viet Nam war) and which one was cheaper.
The last time I checked the Viet Nam war was not giving very good returns but I really like satellite TV and cellphones, and the Internet, and ...(well you get the idea)
In short, we solved a lot of problems that "we should have been spending the money on instead of space travel" ironically by exploring space. Nuff Said!

Why space repairs aren't easy

Mike, Dublin, Ireland — Mon, 18 May 2009 13:17:39 GMT

For those who think its a waste of money, think of all the poor and homeless people there would be if NASA stopped spending its (tiny) budget on equipment manufactured in american factories and the loss of educational facilities if their developmental programmes were stopped.

If you still think it's a waste, call your congressman on your cell phone or watch the sports from the other side of the world . . OH! Wait! You couldn't, if it wasn't for the space programme.

Why space repairs aren't easy

John Perkins, Cincinnati, OH — Mon, 18 May 2009 15:37:54 GMT

I watched some of the repairs on tv last night. I couldn't believe my ears when I heard the astronauts asking for a 9/16" wrench. Isn't this supposed to be Space Age technology? I know America hasn't gone metric, but shouldn't NASA?

Why space repairs aren't easy

Justin McC. - La Plata, MD — Mon, 18 May 2009 16:23:38 GMT

Humans gain immense knowledge by simply viewing from a different perspective...merely standing on one's desk reveals a world previously unknown to the viewer. Hubble and other spacecraft accomplish the same thing for us by changing our perspective on where we are in the universe.

To quote Mr. John F. Kennedy:
"We choose to...do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win, and the others, too."

Even if we are the only runners in the race, we must still actually run in order to win the prize. God bless our astronauts for being our country's relay runners.

Why space repairs aren't easy

CWA, Newport RI — Mon, 18 May 2009 18:29:38 GMT

Approx. 40 years since the last Apollo and we are still stuck in low-earth orbit. It's not a question of IF we should be in space, it's a question of why are we STILL dragging our heels. The majority of scientific and technological advancements of the last 4 decades can be directly traced to space exploration. Yet we still have people who say the silliest of things about "wasted money." I'd rather spend a bazillion dollars more in NASA's budget than one dime more in most of what Congress throws away money on.

Why space repairs aren't easy

James — Mon, 18 May 2009 20:46:43 GMT

For those of you who want to improve life on Earth before we spend money on space, would you kindly take the first step and off yourself before the next mission launches?

Its a small step, something like the shuttle and the Orion are to human spaceflight, but with you out of the way, a critical step in improving the human condition will have been taken.

Why space repairs aren't easy

ALF, Bloomington, IL — Mon, 18 May 2009 21:49:33 GMT

I forgot the specifics, but this made me think about the old urban legend regarding the difference between American and Russian space programs. The Americans decided they needed a writing implement that could be used in space (i.e., write in zero gravity, upside down, underwater, over wet and greasy paper, at any angle, and in extreme temperature ranges - reference Wikipedia). After spending 11 million dollars, the space pen was born! The Russians? ...they used a pencil!

Why space repairs aren't easy

Michael M, Kent oh — Tue, 19 May 2009 02:32:57 GMT

The reason why it costs 10s of millions of dollars to develop these tools is that it requires engineers to design and test them. This isn't something that you can do in your garage,and it isn't something that someone who gets paid 10 dollars an hour can do. Just the engineering talent alone costs alot. Also you have to look at the real cost of employing for instance 6 engineers. You have to pay their salaries,their benefits. Additionally you have to pay for the office space they work in,and the lab space. You need to give them the best tools and equipment,you need to pay someone to maintain that equipment etc. It all adds up fast. On top of that,sometimes you might come up with problems no one,anywhere has solved. Suppose you need a lubricant that just does not exist. You dont just throw up your hands and give up,you hire a chemist,and have him make it for you. Furthermore,you dont have to just pay for the tool that was sent up into space,you have to pay for the 30 tools that are sitting in a drawer here that didnt work. You dont just decide Im going to build a tool to do xyz,then proceed from a-z building it,you have a lot of false starts and ideas that did not work. On top of that,for a project like Hubble,when you think you have one that works,you send it up to the space station and try it out. Then when it fails,you either fix the problem or start all over again.
But Black and Decker makes power tools for $50 dollars you say? In reality,it can cost a fortune to create something truly new. Black and Decker would most likely charge several hundred dollars for something like that (a completely new tool to do a very specific but important job),but still,its not 10 million dollars. The reason for that is that Black and Decker expects to sell a million of them. That means that 10 million dollars gets spread over all of them,so that's 10 dollars a tool. Add on top of that 10 dollars in materials and that's 180 dollars a tool that's profit.

But does it make sense to pay that much? Of course it does. Think of the rock hammers that they sent to the moon. Billions of dollars were spent to build the rockets and spacecraft to go there. You could go to the hardware store and buy a rock hammer,but it weighs more. If you save a pound on the hammer,you can send more stuff. So why not just tell the machinist to go make you an aluminum hammer? What if it doesn't work. What if its not hard enough or breaks? What if you get your people to the moon,where one of their biggest missions was to collect rock samples to bring back and they cant chip off any rocks because aluminum hammers wont work. You may have saved thousands of dollars by skipping all the engineering,but you just wasted hundreds of millions by making a big part of the mission a complete failure. When you look at it like that,a 500 dollar hammer is a bargain.

On an interesting side note,politicians like to point these kinds of "wastes" out because it plays well with the ignorant and the uninformed. Remember during the presidential election. Remember when John McCain accused Obama of voting for a 100,000 dollar "overhead projector". What comes to mind is the overhead projector that you can buy for 50 dollars at staples. Maybe it was bigger. But how could it be 100k bigger. It turns out however,it wasnt an "overhead projector" at all. It was a planetarium projector. Planetarium projectors typically cost that much or even more. It was an expense that was intended to be used to keep the planetarium running so that it could educate the public about science. McCain didn't say that. After all,"my opponent wants to spend $100,000 for a critical part the planetarium needs,which will be used to educate the public and interest a million children a year in science" does not make for a good sound bite.

Why space repairs aren't easy

Michael M, Kent oh — Tue, 19 May 2009 02:40:47 GMT

"Why didn't we just bring Hubble home, fix it, and send it back?? "

Because that would cost a fortune. Even more than making the custom tools did. Launching a space shuttle costs about 60 million dollars. You cant spread that cost over any additional projects either. (if you have to make a special tool for Hubble,there are probably other places you can use it too) Once you have a refurbished Hubble,you have to launch it back into orbit. Thats going to cost another 60 million. Additionally you just doubled the risk to the astronauts,because as everyone knows,we have realized over the last decade that launching a shuttle is a lot more risky than we used to think. I would expect that it would actually be cheaper to build a new Hubble on the ground and install the instruments than to bring the whole thing back,refurbish it and relaunch it.

Why space repairs aren't easy

Alex, Yorktown, Virginia — Tue, 19 May 2009 18:07:57 GMT

We manage to spend all kinds of money to create all types of weapons to destroy each other and our planet. Yet every time we need to cough up money to fight desease, rebuild something, fix what's broken, help someone, or for that matter conquer new horisons there is always a lot of stink about returns on investments and waste of taxpayers' money!!! We cannot survive as spieces without continually evolving and exploring new habitats - this is what made us humans, and it has not gone anywhere yet. The fact that some of us stopped evolving and literally became apes doesn't mean the whole humanity did the same. We cannot survive and prosper if we do not find our way to space far beyong our solar system into other planets!!!
As far as the repairs in space go. My dad used to be a pilot and I once got into argument with him (when I was a kid) about pilot and ship captain having to bear the same responsibility for human life. One thing my dad said threw all my arguments out the window right the way : "The greatest difference is that pilot's mistake is almost always fatal and cannot be fixed!!!". I've never been to space (although I'd give almost anything to go), but I believe the same goes for the space repairs, except the risk is tenfold.

Why space repairs aren't easy

Robert, Gainesville, FL — Thu, 21 May 2009 04:56:21 GMT

I'm just getting my feet wet as far as engineering design and development but I tell you NASA has been invaluable to the technological advancement of the US and the entire world. A lot of people see it from a closed mind perspective..who care's it's space...we'll never be able to live there or been there done that.

I see it as the most grand engineering challenges to date: the most hostile environment where each decision has lives and huge sums of money at stake. The solutions to working in these conditions have spun off countless products directly and indirectly and advanced the art of science and engineering. There have been many breakthroughs in manufacturing and assembly that are just a byproduct of assembling a solving a problem in space.

As a bonus we get to help answer our curiosity..what exactly am I staring at during the night?

However, I am in general disappointed with our government and can't say such positive things about other bureaucracies.

Why space repairs aren't easy

terence franks — Sat, 23 May 2009 08:27:13 GMT

I can only say "Good luck to NASA",as they're doing a really fine job !
The survival instinct of both mankind and also every oyher species on our planet,requires that we adapt or perish !
We would'nt have experienced air travel as we know it today,without the experimentation and perseverance of the Montgolfiers,Wright Brothers,Otto Lilienthal,to name but a few.
Our survival instinct tells us to experiment,adapt,and move forward,if we are to survive as a species.
This therefore means that space travel,as bizarre as it may currently seem to most individuals is absolutely essential for our future survival -(especially due to the fact that we are currently hell bent on destroying our existing habitat !)
I think most of us are aware that neither we/our children or even possibly our grandchildren will not ever venture into space,but eventually,and inevitably someone will at some time in the future !
All great things have small beginnings - let's simply be patient,and space travel will one day come to pass !
I'm just an ordinary person in the street,who will never meet any of the NASA astronauts,or any of the other personnel,however i wish to wish them,their families and loved ones all of the best for the future - keep up the good work !