Post by Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe on Apr 13, 2005 21:43:08 GMT -6
NASA To Revisit Decision To Abandon Hubble Telescope
Washington (AFP) Apr 13, 2005
NASA will revisit its decision to abandon the Hubble Space Telescope, Michael Griffin, the nominee to lead the US space agency, has told Congress in a confirmation hearing.
Outgoing NASA chief Sean O'Keefe had decided to drop maintenance of the telescope citing potential risks such a mission could entail for astronauts. His decision was made in the aftermath of the Columbia space shuttle accident that killed seven astronauts.
But Griffin said Tuesday that if confirmed to lead the US space agency the Hubble decision would get a fresh look in light of resumed space flights expected from May 15.
"We should revisit the earlier decision in light of what we learn after return to flight," Griffin told the Senate Commerce committee Tuesday.
The decision to call off maintenance sparked concern from some in the scientific community and some lawmakers. A mission using robots was considered but then dropped as too complicated to get off the ground.
Since it entered into service in 1990, Hubble has established the age of the Milky Way galaxy, helped gather evidence to support the Big Bang theory and provided the first convincing proof by an optical telescope of the existence of black holes.
Astronauts have serviced Hubble four times, and many scientists hoped that a fifth service mission would be funded to enable Hubble to function to 2011.
More here: www.spacedaily.com/news/hubble-05m.html
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Excellent!... ;D
It's amazing what one person is capable of inflicting upon the many, and with the incompetent O'keefe gone, so are bad decisions...I hope.
Let's support Griffin in his decision to revisit saving the Hubble.