Save Hubble Space Telescope

We, the American citizens and taxpayers, respectfully petition that President George W. Bush, the US Congress, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), reconsider and reverse the recent decision to cancel the fourth and final Space Shuttle Servicing Mission 4 to the Hubble Space Telescope. This mission would give Hubble several more years of life, get more value from the existing investment, and extend even further the science capability of the telescope.

The Hubble Space Telescope has been one of the most successful space programs in history, and is perhaps the most productive scientific instrument ever created. The technical achievement of the Hubble itself is incredible. The science produced by the Hubble has captured the imagination of the world, explained the universe on numerous levels, and changed the entire study of physics and astronomy.

The cost to date of the Hubble program has been under $100 per American over the last 20 years - $5 per person per year. The cost of Space Shuttle Servicing Mission 4 is already largely spent, as the upgrade components for Hubble have been almost completed.

The primary reason for cancellation of this mission was to avoid the cost of specialized Shuttle safety upgrades. Since this mission will be unable to use the International Space Station as a safe harbor (Hubble is in a very different orbit), should the shuttle be damaged upon launch, as occurred with Columbia, the crew of the Shuttle would have nowhere to go.

To eliminate this risk, NASA should simultaneously prepare 2 Shuttles for launch one to Hubble, and one on standby for rescue. This is not unusual - 2 Shuttles have been on neighboring launch pads in the past, due to quick succession missions. This would allow a rescue opportunity, should the need arise, and would eliminate the need to develop specialized Shuttle repair capability that only apply to this Hubble mission. The standby Shuttle would complete a normal mission, if its rescue capability is not needed.

Every Shuttle mission should be subject to the confidence of the astronaut corps and the assigned crew, and such confidence is assumed in making this request. Please make the small investment to protect this irreplaceable asset.