04-09-2016, 07:15 PM
HOTPE,
I don't know the final cost of the last Hubble repair mission, but back in 2005 it was estimated to be between $1 billion to $2 billion. This is for the only space-based observatory designed to be serviced or repaired. No others can be repaired in space and the same will apply to the JWST.
I think our own last critical repair mission on Mauna Kea cost about $5,000 to $10,000 in total.
As an aside, Kepler has lasted much longer than its originally planned mission of 3.5 years, so it's done pretty well. It has suffered fatal failures of two of its reaction wheels in the past so I'm wondering if this is another failure (the wheels are used to orientate the telescope). Unfortunately, if it is, it's likely the end of the mission as it'll only have one left which means it'll only be able to move in one axis. Hoping for better news shortly though.
I don't know the final cost of the last Hubble repair mission, but back in 2005 it was estimated to be between $1 billion to $2 billion. This is for the only space-based observatory designed to be serviced or repaired. No others can be repaired in space and the same will apply to the JWST.
I think our own last critical repair mission on Mauna Kea cost about $5,000 to $10,000 in total.
As an aside, Kepler has lasted much longer than its originally planned mission of 3.5 years, so it's done pretty well. It has suffered fatal failures of two of its reaction wheels in the past so I'm wondering if this is another failure (the wheels are used to orientate the telescope). Unfortunately, if it is, it's likely the end of the mission as it'll only have one left which means it'll only be able to move in one axis. Hoping for better news shortly though.