Was the electrical system on the Hubble designed to be replaced? Are there wires in the nether reaches which won't be replaced and might have become degraded by radiation over time? Might a voltage surge from starting (I know normally that could be controlled) complete the destruction of some insulation, resulting in a short circuit? I wonder what the design life of a wire and insulation in orbit is? Some of them seem to last a long time.

If they are going to work on some part of it which wasn't designed to be replaced, I would think they could have a very large headache. Just splicing a wire seems to be difficult to do in orbit.

Anyone know where they'd expect the problems to be if they had any?

Arf