Oh, Hubble, Can This Really Be the End?

The spectacular collision between two satellites on Feb. 10 could make the shuttle mission to fix the Hubble Space Telescope too risky to attempt.

Before the collision, space junk problems had already upped the Hubble mission's risk of a "catastrophic impact" beyond NASA's usual limits, Nature's Geoff Brumfiel reported today, and now the problem will be worse.

Mark Matney, an orbital debris specialist at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas told the publication that even before the collision, the risk of an impact was 1 in 185, which was "uncomfortably close to unacceptable levels" and the satellite collision "is only going to add on to that."

Matney said that it could be one or two weeks before NASA knows if the mission will go ahead. If it does, the shuttle Atlantis is expected to reach the telescope in mid-May.

...

NASA spokeswoman, Beth Dickey, would not specifically comment on whether or not the collision had created elevated risk for the Hubble repair mission.

"What we've told everyone is that there is an elevated risk to virtually any satellite in low-earth orbit," Dickey said. "As far as NASA's assets are concerned, that risk is considered to be very small. I have not seen or heard anything that would lead me to think differently."

Dickey noted, however, that the mission would receive a full check out in the weeks between now and the scheduled launch.

"From a standpoint of space operations and the space shuttle program, NASA is going to treat the Hubble mission like any other Shuttle flight," Dickey said. "It's going to get a thorough risk assessment as time passes. The readiness for flight will be determined as we get closer to the [launch] date."

She told me she was going to call her mother and tell her I made her do work that was beneath her and that her mother would be really mad. I told her that if this was the worst thing that she ever had to do in her life, she was lucky!

My response to this would have been "Oh, well, if she's going to be mad, I might as well make it worthwhile. Want me to get you a toothbrush for cleaning the toilets and bathroom floors, or would you prefer to use your sleeves?"

Skipping to post that, according to the Buffista Calendar, today is a double Buffista event: it's the birthday of Beverly as well as Benno.

Happy birthday, Beverly! With lots of wishes for a great day and a wonderful year!

Happy birthday, Benno, you big boy! With lots of wishes for your mom, your younger sister, and all your family!

"OK, you know what would be awesome? If a dinosaur, like, fucked a robot!"?

Didn't T. Rex say this in a Dinosaur Comics at some point? If not, he should.

100 days, 100 songs, 100 locations, 100 dances.

But the more you lick your fingers, the more orange goop sticks to them. It's like a vicious circle of numiness....

Which is AWESOME.

Note to self: never borrow one of Teppy's keyboards.

Note to self: never borrow one of Teppy's keyboards.

That is an eminently wise idea. I fully admit that they are NASTY. Particularly my work one, just because I've had it for so long. But my laptop keys are mungy, too. Although I regularly lift up the keyboard and get rid of the crud under it.

A pub downtown has started serving a drink called "the Sully" in honor of the pilot who safely landed a plane in the Hudson.

"The Sully," which consists of two shots of Grey Goose vodka and "a splash of water." Carla Iny of Brooklyn tells the Post, "It's a classy drink for a classy man. It's cool and smooth—like Sully."

(The second comment on that post is in really poor taste, but I laughed anyway.)

(The second comment on that post is in really poor taste, but I laughed anyway.)

Heh. Me too.