And the author makes the claim at the end of the article that it would have been cheaper to build and launch a new Hubble rather than send the shuttle to service it.
I know it costs a one followed by several zeros to launch each shuttle but I was wondering if it would actually been a more cost effective solution?
True.
When Perkin Elmer built the mirror(and blew it) for HST they charged the American taxpayer full research costs.
(I worked for Perkin Elmer in Bishopstown in Cork.)
They neglected to mention that almost as powerful Military telescopes ,made by them, had been peering at the Soviet Union for a decade.
You could duplicate Hubble tomorrow morning! And send it up, cheaper than a repair mission.
Peter.
  