XPost: sci.space.shuttle   
   From: g_d_pusch_remove_underscores@xnet.com   
   Copy: zoltanccc@aol.com   
      
   zoltanccc@aol.com (Zoltan Szakaly) writes:   
      
   >> The problem is that Hubble only has, what, 3 of it's   
   >> original 6 gyroscopes still working, and it needs two   
   >> to maintain itself and be usable. The gyroscopes wear   
   >> out, and the next is expected to fail with a couple   
   >> of years. Once it starts tumbling then there's no   
   >> way to do anything with it remotely.   
   >   
   > Haven't NASA engineers heard of solid state gyros? Such as RLG-s   
   > (ring laser gyro) or FOG (fiber optic gyro). See:   
   > http://www.kvh.com/FiberOpt/   
   >   
   > These are commercially available and cheap.   
      
   In this particular context, "gyro" actually means "reaction wheel."   
      
   Fiber optic gyros are not practical substitutes for reaction wheels.   
      
      
   -- Gordon D. Pusch   
      
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