20 Years Old: Hubble Telescope No Longer a Teenager April 24, 2010

The Hubble Space Telescope Has Had a Few Makeovers But Is Still Going Strong At 20 years of age

Hubble Has a Unique View of Saturn

On This Date in History:  The Space Shuttle program had its roots in the heads of engineers in the late 1960′s.  By 1975, construction began on Columbia, the first space shuttle to fly in space.  The first flight of Columbia (STS-1) came on April 12, 1981 with veteran astronaut John Young in command and Robert Crippen as pilot.  After 36 orbits, the shuttle returned safely to earth and the age of the “space truck” was upon us.  Part of the mission of the shuttle was to provide a vehicle to ferry cargo to and from space.  Part of its mission was to help in the construction of a space station, which has come to fruition in the form of the International Space Station (ISS).  One of the more noteworthy pieces of luggage taken into space was the Hubble Space Telescope, which was delivered to orbit on this date in 1990 by the Space Shuttle Discovery (STS 31). 

Hubble "Butterfly" Planetary Nebula NGC 6302

The Hubble Space Telescope (HST) is in an orbit about 380 miles above the earth and has provided spectacular images for both the trained and amateur eye.  That location provides it a huge advantage over earth bound telescopes in that it doesn’t have to deal with the earth’s atmosphere.  The physics of the atmosphere results in diffraction of light and the very nature of the atmosphere is that it is in constant movement.  Between diffraction and an atmosphere in motion, objects in the sky appear to jiggle and the diffraction gives the twinkling affect of stars, which results in blurred images.  The HST is free some such nuisance.  With a clear line of sight and a 94 inch mirror, the HST is able to provide clear images of extremely distant objects.  It also can view ultraviolet and infrared light that is otherwise blocked by the earth’s atmosphere.   Infrared light is a longer wavelength than visible light and is associated with cooler processes such as the formation of stars from dust clouds.  The HST can see it.  Ultraviolet light has a shorter wavelength than visible light and is present with very energetic events, such as exploding stars or the formation of disks around black holes.  The HST can see it.

Hubble "Cats Eye" Nebula NGC 6543

The development of the Hubble Space Telescope is as amazing as it’s namesake’s road to astronomy.  Edwin P. Hubble had been interested in science and astronomy as a kid.  But he was no geek.  He was an accomplished athlete, having broken the Illinois State high jump record.  He continued in basketball and boxing at the University of Chicago, but, as a true student-athlete, found time to get degrees in mathematics and astronomy.  His academics outpaced his athletic prowess and he went on to attend Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar.  But, this is where it gets weird.  He didn’t study anything related to science.  Instead, he studied the law.  He returned to the United States in 1913 and set up a law practice in Louisville, Kentucky.  Hubble was young enough to realize that he had made a mistake and was able to do something about it.  He closed down his law practice and returned to study at the Yerkes Observatory where, in 1917, he received a PhD in Astronomy.  However, he chose another route after graduation rather than immediately pursuing his passion.  Instead, he joined the army and served for a tour of duty in World War I. 

Hubble "Sombrero" galaxy M104

Finally, after concluding his service to the nation, Hubble went to the Mount Wilson Observatory near Los Angeles where he went to work developing several ground breaking ideas in astronomy.   He came up with a classification system for galaxies and then created Hubble’s Law,  which helped determine the age of the universe and to conclude that it was expanding.   Albert Einstein had already developed his theory of relativity and had concluded that gravity curved space and, therefore, it could expand or contract.  But, he thought he was wrong and revised his theory.  After Hubble’s work, Einstein had to correct his error and in 1931 visited Hubble for the purpose of thanking him for his work in astronomy.  Hubble’s work in determining the expanding universe is the basis for the Big Bang Theory.   

Hubble Planetary Nebula IC 418

As great as the HST has been, nothing lasts forever.  The HST was designed for servicing and at least 4 service missions from the space shuttle have been undertaken.  Perhaps the most famous was when the Space Shuttle Endeavor (STS-61) came to the rescue with corrections to a flawed mirror that messed up the optics.  In February 1997, Discovery (STS-82) came to do some work and Discovery again returned in late 1999 (STS 103) and replaced the gyroscopes.  A few years later in 2002, the last of the original instruments on the HST was replaced with some new hardware courtesy of Columbia (STS-109).  In May 2009, most likely the final service mission to the Hubble Space Telescope took place with a visit from Space Shuttle Atlantis (STS-125).  The crew of Atlantis replaced numerous instruments and parts and put the HST in an orbit that should keep it aloft until sometime between 2019 and 2032.  It was originally designed to be brought back to earth in a shuttle but the program has been cancelled and the shuttle fleet will be retired soon.  So, the HST will be allowed to die a quick and undigified death with an orbital decay that will eventually end with it being burned to a crisp.  Maybe that’s not all bad. It came in a blaze of glory and will go out the same way, when it gives way to the James Webb Space Telescope.  I’m sure that it will be outstanding…but you can never duplicate the first time.

SPC Moderate Risk for Severe Weather For Parts of the Area Sat AM to Sun AM

Damaging Wind Primary Threat

Weather Bottom Line:  I’ve been talking of the risk of severe weather for this weekend and it’s here. I have to admit some of the numbers coming through are showing something potentially a little more formidable than even what I expected.  Every time that I’ve seen a SWEAT index over 500, something exciting happens.  The models are not in full agreement on this issue but they are close.  The RUC at 5Z was coming in with a SWEAT index of about 502 for 6 pm on Saturday.  The NAM has about 424 for around that time and the GFS is at 491.  CAPE for the NAM top out around 905, the RUC at 1521 and the GFS is more subdued at 406.  The Lifted Index is -3.2 for the NAM, -1.4 for the GFS and the RUC goes bananas at -6.1.  Helicity for NAM is 840 and 600 for the RUC while the GFS is negligible but I have to believe that its just crappy data.

Tornadic Activity is Not Out of the Question at all

So, what does this say.  Guarantee for a widespread severe outbreak?  No, but there is a pretty fair chance for numerous reports.  Now, the timing of this with all three models is about 6-8 pm….closer to 6-7 pm.  You’ll note that the SPC has the highest probability (45%) of the type of severe weather in our area for wind.  The best chances for tornadoes will be well to our south in the Heart of Dixie.  But, if this stuff…perhaps a lead super cell…comes moving through the flow in the afternoon during the heat of the day, it’s not out of the question for there to be enough dyamics to produce a twister or two.  Best chance for that still seems to be from say Owensboro to Bowling Green and points to the Southwest.  A concern that I may have would be for areas to the northeast of that…say toward Springfield or Lebanon.  I would think that Lexington will be too far northeast.

Hail not a huge concern but its still possible

I would get yardwork done early in the day.  We’ll probably warm up nicely with breezy conditions.  Isolated t’storms will start to float through in the early afternoon with more numerous cells by the end of the day.   Any storms that show up in the afternoon should be taken note of as it will have the potential for some monkeybusiness.  As we get toward sunset and after, be aware of the potential for strong winds as storms may be collapsing.  Even before then, storms will be racing along and their sheer momentum will produce strong winds in addition to downbursts.  Hail will also be a possibility but straight line winds will be the focus of concern followed by tornadoes.  Typically, when we get to the evening hours, these types of situations evolve into one of line segments.  When/if that happens, then there will be the potential for wind along bow echoes as well as isolated, short lived tornadoes on the edge of the apex of a bow segment.  Actually, I believe this type of situtation is the more common derivation of tornadic activity in our area rather than super cells. 

SPC Sunday Threat to East but rain potential exists

Rain totals are showed to be at about 1.5 inches by early Sunday morning for the NAM, 1.25 inches for the GFS.  The 5Z RUC only goes out to 6pm so it’s inconclusive but my guess is that it will be coincidental with the other two.  The axis of the main low will be just to our east on Sunday as this guy really gets bogged down.  But, we will still be in the influence of the system such that we can expect slightly cooler but still wet conditions on Sunday with passing showers in the picture.  I believe the GFS even wants to hold the rain chances over into Monday.  The threat of severe weather though will have gone by the way side by around Midnight Saturday night.

The Explosion That Brought Failure, Success and Fame April 13, 2010

The Result of the Explosion that Forced The World to Remember Apollo 13

President Kennedy Challenges Nation Before Congress May 25, 1961

On This Date in History:  The manned space program at NASA currently has an uncertain future as the Space Shuttle program winds down.  In sharp contrast, in the 1960′s the United States made manned space missions a national goal.  Just a few weeks after Alan B. Shepard, Jr.  became the first American in space, President Kennedy on May 25, 1961 set the bar high by saying that the United States would put a man on the moon by the end of the decade.   When I was a kid, I couldn’t get enough of the space program.  I sometimes wish that I had followed through on my boyhood dream of being an astronaut when I grew up.  In my college years, I won many a bar bet on any trivia question relating to space exploration.  When Neil A. Armstrong and Edwin E. (Buzz)  Aldrin, Jr.  set foot on the moon on July 20, 1969 the Guinness Book of World Records says that about a third of the global population watched in television.  That was Apollo 11 and Apollo 12 followed and by the time Apollo 13 lifted off on April 11, 1970 the American people, along with the rest of the world, seemed to give a collective yawn.

Picture Perfect Liftoff April 11, 1970

No one really noticed when the time of the launch on that day took place at 13:13 NASA time, or 1:13 pm CST.  More critically, no one at NASA had any concern over oxygen tank #2 in the service module.  According to NASA, “The No. 2 oxygen tank, serial number 10024X-TA0009 had been previously installed in the service module of Apollo 10, but was removed for modification (and was damaged in the process of removal). The tank was fixed, tested at the factory, installed in the Apollo 13 service module. and tested again during the Countdown Demonstration Test (CDT) at the Kennedy Space Center.beginning March 16, 1970. The tanks normally are emptied to about half full, and No. 1 behaved all right. But No. 2 dropped to only 92 percent of capacity. Gaseous oxygen at 80 psi was applied through the vent line to expel the liquid oxygen, but to no avail. An interim discrepancy report was written, and on March 27, two weeks before launch, detanking operations were resumed. No. 1 again emptied normally, but No. 2 did not. After a conference with contractor and NASA personnel, the test director decided to “boil off” the remaining oxygen in No. 2 by using the electrical heater within the tank. The technique worked, but it took eight hours of 65-volt DC power from the ground-support equipment to dissipate the oxygen. Due to an oversight in replacing an underrated component during a design modification, this turned out to severely damage the internal heating elements of the tank.”

"Houston, We've Had a Problem"

For years the main television networks in America had cut into regular programming to show broadcasts from space.  But, less than a year after Armstrong and Aldrin had put their footprints on the moon, network executives had determined that the public would rather watch their favorite tv show than watch the astronauts.  So, when the Apollo 13 crew broadcast live a few minutes short of 55 hours into their mission, no one saw the 49 minute broadcast from space which concluded with flight crew leader James A. Lovell, Jr say goodnight.  Within 15 minutes the networks scrambled to break into the programming as suddenly they thought the public would be interested. On this date in 1970,  nine minutes after Lovell bid farewell, that oxygen tank number 2 blew up and that caused oxygen tank number 1 to fail.  The goodship and crew was in peril as they were some 200,000 miles from earth.  Lovell called home, giving the infamous understatement of the century, “Houston, we’ve had a problem.”  

 Jerry Woodfill makes the case of Divine intervention regarding the timing of the explosion.   He was mission Warning System Engineer and suggests that the time of the explosion was about the only time it could have happened and still gave the opportunity to spare the crew.  Now that is an interesting take on the incident that deserves some consideration.  Perhaps worthy of less examination are what might be regarded as those interesting coincidences of history.  Over time people have made numerous assocations of the third Apollo mission to put men on the moon with the number 13, though some are a stretch.   It departed on April 11, 1970 at 1:13 pm Houston time.   Never mind they launched on east coast time.   Anyway, 1:13 pm is 13:13 in 24 hour clock time. April 11, 1970 can also be written as 4/11/70. Four plus One plus One plus Seven plus Zero equals 13.   Or you can say 4+11+70 = 85 and 8+5 =13. Their last television broadcast was on April 13. They entered the moon’s gravitational field on April 13 and were scheduled to land on the moon on April 13. The failure of the number 2 oxygen tank occurred on Apirl 13th at 3:08:53.555 UTC which in the eastern time zone would be 9:08:53:555. 9+8+53+555=625 and 6+2+5 =13.   If the explosion that caused the damage had occured on earth, it was supposedly estimated to cost $13 million to repair the damage.  Seems like someone had a lot of time on their hands to have discovered all of this.

Splashdown Was Welcome Sight to the World and Mrs. Staple

If you saw the Apollo 13 movie, then you know that the crew made it home safely.  Back in those days, it was unusual  to have a TV set in the classroom but they wheeled one in to ours.  I remember Mrs. Staple being all emotional when we saw the Command Module floating to the sea under the 3 large parachutes.  Lunar Module Pilot Fred Haise was assigned to be the Lunar Module Pilot for Apollo 18 but it was cancelled along with two other missions, leaving Apollo 17 as the last manned moon mission.  Command Module pilot  (John) Jack Swigert went on to be elected to Congress but died of cancer before he could take his seat.  Jim Lovell became one of America’s most experienced astronauts having logged over 715 hours in space during the Gemini and Apollo programs.  Lovell said in a 2009 published article that funding the space program would be a great part of the stimulus:  ”One part of the stimulus could be the space program,” he said.  “First of all it’s a creative program, it creates taxes individual and corporate taxes, all the money is spent here on Earth, not one cent up there in space.  It brings technology that spills over to the private sector.  That’s what happened all through Gemini and Apollo and the private sector now is affected by computer technology and electronic components that were speeded up by our being in space, and that could continue.”

Haise, Swigert and Lovell After Returning from Successful Failure made them more famous than if it ran smoothly

Now, Lovell is certainly qualified and worthwhile to get his opinion on all things space related.  But, the flight experience of John Young eclipses even that of Lovell.   And, of all the moon missions, aside from Apollo 11, no one remembers anything about Apollo 12-17 except 13.  Why? Because it was the successful failure.  It was dramatic.  It’s as if the 5 missions that put 10 additional men on the moon did not matter to the public.  Maybe the TV executives were right; the public had lost interest.  And with the cutbacks at NASA today, it would seem that the government is losing interest as well; that is a mistake.

Weather Bottom Line:  High pressure will drift to the east and temperatures will begin to warm slowly.  Friday evening a little front will come through that will bring a chance of rain or maybe some t’storms but nothing too earth shattering.  That will leave us with a great Thunder Over Louisville weekend though temperatures will be a bit cooler with highs in the mid to upper 60′s, which is closer to where they are supposed to be this time of year anyway.