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[Maddad]

With anyone who has viewed the incredible detail in a high resolution Hubble photograph, the issue of saving the Hubble Telescope or letting it crash in flames is not just an intellectual issue, but it is an emotional one as well. Hubble is expensive, and we do not live in a world of infinite resources. We must decide with our heads, at least as much as our hearts, what we should do with the funds that would be required to salvage Hubble.

We need to know how much the operation would cost, and what the chance of success would be. We need to know how long Hubble will last if we do not finance a mission to maintain it. We need to know the size of the gap that Hubble will leave between going blind and the time a suitable replacement picks up the slack. We cannot answer most of these questions absolutely. For instance, if we choose not to service Hubble then we cannot say how long it will stay operational. We can only guestimate.

While we consider these questions, we should consider what programs we would not fund because we spent the money on Hubble instead. It is useless saying that the cost of a few days of the war in Iraq could sponsor the mission because we cannot suspend those operations as a means financing Hubble. We have to ask where the money would come from, what we would not get, if we did get Hubble. We have to think with our heads.

Having said that, I also think with my heart. If Hubble goes down, then we will stop getting titanic pictures (1.8 megabytes and 4,600 x 3,600 pixels at www.maddad.org/astronomy/images/ngc-3370-01d.jpg ) like the spiral galaxy NGC 3370 which shows more beauty and detail than we could have ever imagined before. Remember though, the loss will only be for a short time.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

I don't agree with shunning the shuttle for a lack of funds, as we all know the funds are indeed there and mismanaged by those in authority. $7,000 toilet seats, millions for favored insider contracts, incompetent waste and the list goes on.

When people complain about spending money for space activities, they make it sound like the money is going out into space...never to be seen again, where infact...it's spent right here in anytown USA. The Hubble is aging, and we need to give it what it needs to function as the disposable mentality of the American public needs to be curbed.

A personal example from me is that I tootle around town in my 1968 Chevelle, a 37 year old automobile. Most have been crushed by the people who thought they were too old to maintain, and got themselves a plastic car. Truly a disposable item. But with care and proper maintenance a good American built auto...or telescope, will function well beyond it's intended usable life. Not a week goes by that I am approached to sell the car, or just to chat about it. A good thing does not change with age, just gets better.

Same goes with the Hubble. Let's get the Russians to assist, load their Soyuz capsule with the necessary updated equipment and get the damned thing fixed already. If a billionaire can buy his way into space, the U.S. Government can as well. The American public will never miss the funds and the return will be priceless.

Spending for this won't affect our forces in Iraq and as the President has requested an extra $10 billion for the effort, whats another billion?

Just do it.