Hubble, trouble, toil and space rubble: The management history of an object in space

Abstract

This article tells the saga of the Hubble Space Telescope, and how the attempt to overcome the restrictions Earths atmosphere imposes upon astronomy, came to dominate the existence of NASA in the later part of the 20th century. This biography of an object is told over four stages fundamental to the order of management; development, failure, recovery and completion. With a failed mirror, what became hidden and forgotten, was once more revealed. With the wild and uncertain dimension of Hubble's assemblage disclosing itself through malfunction, management was able to rescue through repair its prior unavailability. Eventually management has contended with Hubble's demise as it fades out of view during the process of completion. Running in counterpart to the four stages of Hubble's life will be an explication of the events using the work of Martin Heidegger, particularly his work and concepts of Being and Time (Heidegger, 1962). © 2009 SAGE.