|
|
|
|
|
by XorNot
1651 days ago
|
|
I think the best we could hope for is maybe being able to drill into the liquid helium tank and refill it - which is the ultimate determinate of its useful lifetime (that and propellant, but I'm led to believe the liquid helium will run out first). Probably a moot point though: by the time we can get people out to do such an operation, I suspect a reduction in launch costs might lead to a much cheaper space telescope you could just drop off instead. |
|
If all goes as planned, the limiting factor is propellant. And the propellant tanks have the ports for on-orbit refueling, in case there is ever a desire to develop a robotic servicing mission for the task.