White House plans to scuttle the Hubble Space Telescope 


Space.com reported that the White House is cutting off funding for a mission to service and save the Hubble Space Telescope and will direct NASA to mount a mission to safely de-orbit the telescope. 

No replacement for Hubble is currently being planned and no other telescope, currently operating or planned can see as far into the universe in visible light with Hubble's consistency, according to Space.com. It is unlikely that Hubble can usefully operate beyond 2008 without being upgraded. Already long-term studies using the telescope have been set aside because of the uncertainty of the fate of Hubble.

A study by a committee of the National Academy of Sciences found that "The Hubble Space Telescope (HST) provides a host of unique and important capabilities for astronomical research, many of which will not be replaced by any existing or currently planned astronomy facility in space or on Earth. Hubble's continuing and extraordinary impact on human understanding of the physical universe has been internationally recognized by scientists and the public alike."

The committee concluded that "A shuttle servicing mission is the best option for extending the life of Hubble and preparing the observatory for eventual robotic de-orbit; such a mission is highly likely to succeed." "Given the intrinsic value of a serviced Hubble, and the high likelihood of success for a shuttle servicing mission, the committee judges that such a mission is worth the risk."

Congress could allocate funds for NASA to save the telescope. 

Posted: Saturday - January 22, 2005 at 03:04 PM          

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