Hubble Decision today (signs are POSITIVE!)

[n2doc]

NASA to Announce Hubble Plans


By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: October 31, 2006
Filed at 7:53 a.m. ET

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) -- NASA Administrator Michael Griffin could turn astronomers' Halloween into Christmas with an announcement on whether he will send astronauts on a final mission to repair the Hubble Space Telescope.

The announcement was expected Tuesday on whether he will prolong the life of an instrument that has captured some of the most spectacular images of the universe.

''It's a bit like we know there is a big present under the Christmas tree and we have no idea what's in it,'' said Matt Mountain, director of the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, which coordinates use of Hubble.

All signs were pointing to astronomers getting their wish.

The U.S. space agency scheduled an announcement at the Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland, where the Hubble project is managed. Scheduled to attend along with Griffin was U.S. Sen. Barbara Mikulski, D-Md., a leading champion of a space shuttle mission to Hubble.

One promising sign was that Mikulski, who has led lobbying efforts on behalf of Hubble, hasn't bothered to come up with a strategy in case the NASA administrator decided against a Hubble shuttle mission.

''It's something that we didn't worry about,'' said Mikulski spokeswoman Melissa Schwartz.

Another indicator: At least three astronauts planned to be available for a news conference in Houston should Griffin give the green light. Astronauts already have been training for Hubble-specific tasks. A mission to prolong the telescope's life likely would be in early 2008.

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-Shuttle-Hubble.html

[trotsky]

1. Keeping my fingers crossed...

Hubble has meant SO MUCH to astronomy - it would be a damn shame to lose it.

[rasputin1952]

2. i hope they go for it. Hubble has been an immense source

of scientific knowledge, and sheer joy for those of us that like astronomy.


I often visit the Hubble Heritage site...such magnificent beauty....O8)

[n2doc]

3. YESSSSS!

NASA Plans Mission to Repair Hubble


By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: October 31, 2006
Filed at 10:36 a.m. ET

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) -- NASA will send a space shuttle crew to repair the 16-year-old Hubble Space Telescope, agency Administrator Michael Griffin announced Tuesday, reversing his predecessor's order that had nixed the mission.

Griffin's announcement was greeted eagerly by astronomers who feared Hubble would deteriorate before the end of the decade without new camera instruments, sensors and replacements for its aging batteries.

The rehab mission, likely in launch in early 2008, would keep Hubble working until about 2013.

Without it, the instrument that has captured some of the most spectacular images of the universe would likely deteriorate in 2009 or 2010.

Among its many scientific accomplishments, the Hubble enabled direct observation of the universe as it was 12 billion years ago, discovered black holes at the center of many galaxies, provided measurements that helped establish the size and age of the universe and offered evidence that the expansion of the universe is accelerating.

It also popularized astronomy with its countless images.

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-Shuttle-Hubble.html

[JitterbugPerfume]

4. The good guys win!

Hubble lives on!