Hubble will die a quick death thanks to Bush

[ringmastery]

This pisses me off. They are scrapping plans to do real science NOW for this Moon/Mars thing that is probably fiscal fantasy land. I don't expect it to get any funding in congress.

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/7729894.htm

WASHINGTON - The Hubble Space Telescope will be allowed to degrade and eventually become useless, as NASA changes focus to President Bush's plans to send humans to the moon, Mars and beyond, officials said.

NASA canceled all space shuttle servicing missions to the Hubble, which has revolutionized the study of astronomy with its striking images of the universe.

John Grunsfeld, NASA's chief scientist, said Friday that NASA administrator Sean O'Keefe made the decision to cancel the fifth space shuttle service mission to the Hubble when it became clear there was not enough time to conduct it before the shuttle is retired. The servicing mission was considered essential to enable the orbiting telescope to continue to operate.

"This is a sad day," said Grunsfeld, but he said the decision "is the best thing for the space community."