Re: [ATM] SM4

[Jeff Rowe <jroweapp@swbell.net>]

Friends;
For those interested in the likelihood of the success of the JWT  
project, I would humbly suggest you go collimate your scope tonight and 
then imagine doing that robotically on a scale of 10,000 X  ( yes I 
picked a figure out of thin air). Think about Keck for a moment. How 
well has Hobby-Eberly faired sitting on the ground at McDonald 
Observatory with the many, many actual physical tweaks, with folks 
actually twisting wrenches and making parts and design work around 
corrections? I'm not casting abuse or derision at H-E, I'm thrilled with 
every new telescope that leads to a better understanding of the Cosmos, 
I just use it as an illustration of the dangers involved in mega 
projects which are ground based, let alone those that are launch and 
forget, there will be no "Maytag Guy" to correct  any unforeseen 
glitches. HST has one primary, remind me how many mirror segments 
comprise JWT, and it blossums in space like a perfect flower with no 
glitches? I think it could be argued that HST has produced more real 
science/$ as well as alot of great images than anything to come down the 
pike in awhile  ; )  So please excuse me if I'm more than a little cynical.
Regards
Jeff Rowe

>** I don't think the point is a lack of interest in astronomy, but a
>realization that our finances are finite and the money could be better
>spent on the JWT project without the possibility of a mission failure
>placing it and other programs in a holding pattern. This has to be part
>of the mix and I agree. The Hubble's service life reached the point of
>diminishing returns a few years back. It's time for the future missions
>of space telescopes. Tom **
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