First, the Hubble Telescope's main camera lost two thirds of its capacity when it short circuited. "We believe that the wide field channel and high resolution channel on the ACS instruments are no longer available to us," said Preston Burch, the Hubble program manager. It will take until 2008 for NASA to launch a repair mission and keep the telescope operational.
Second, the newest satellite from European satellite giant SES New Skies, the NSS-8, was destroyed in an explosion on the launch pad early on Tuesday. Of course, the hubristic company still has a site up extolling the virtues of their now defunct brainchild. Here's a photo of the satellite's fiery demise.
The company plans to attempt another launch in 2009.I don't want to make it seem as if I am celebrating these accidents, but my point is clear. Space is not the place for mankind. All our fancy machinery breaks down and fails us. Give me a telescope and a notebook and a clear night and I will read the stars for you.
1 comment:
well said billy boy!
if only those fat cats in washington would stop giving out so much money, maybe we would have some good ideas!! for a change!!
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