This image of the Hubble Space Telescope orbiting Earth was taken from the Space Shuttle Columbia in March 2002. Click on image for full size (44K JPG) Image courtesy NASA.

On January 16, 2004, NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe announced the cancellation of the final scheduled servicing mission to the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). The review board studying the Shuttle Columbia disaster recommended that all future Space Shuttle missions fly in orbits that allow them to reach the International Space Station (ISS) in case of an emergency. The orbit a shuttle would need to follow to service Hubble would not allow the shuttle to get to the ISS.

The final servicing mission to Hubble was scheduled for sometime in 2006. During that mission, shuttle astronauts were to replace a fine guidance sensor which points the telescope, install protective "blankets" on top of torn insulation, and replace numerous other aging components onboard the HST. They were also planning to install two new instruments that would have improved Hubble's capabilities: a wide field camera sensitive to both ultraviolet and infrared wavelengths that is two to three times more sensitive than Hubble's current near infrared camera, and a powerful new high-resolution spectrograph capable of studying the chemical composition of Hubble's targets.

Without the servicing mission, the aging Hubble will probably fail a few years sooner than previously expected. Predicting when the orbiting observatory will fail includes some guesswork, but NASA engineers expect that it will expire three or four years sooner than the previous estimate of 2010. Hubble's batteries, which its solar panels recharge several times each day, are gradually growing weaker. Gyroscopes that stabilize and help to point the telescope are prone to failure, and the eventual loss of these devices will prevent ground controllers from steering Hubble.

NASA's long-term plan for Hubble is to attach a rocket to the spacecraft and steer it to a controlled reentry into Earth's atmosphere. This controlled "crash landing" would plunge Hubble's remains into an ocean far from populated areas or shipping lanes. Without such a controlled crash, Hubble's orbit would eventually decay causing the spacecraft to tumble to Earth at an unpredictable location, possible causing damage or injuries.

NASA is developing a successor to Hubble called the James Webb Space Telescope, which is slated for launch around 2011. This new space telescope will have a mirror six times as large in area as Hubble's. There are some parts of the spectrum that Hubble can observe that the new telescope cannot, so the new telescope is not a perfect replacement for the HST.

Some people think NASA is making a mistake in canceling the final servicing mission to Hubble. They think the risk to Shuttle astronauts is small, and that Hubble is too valuable of a resource to abandon. They are urging NASA to reconsider its decision to cancel the mission to Hubble. Some Senators and members of Congress have started to debate the issue in the U.S. Congress. It seems unlikely, but still possible, that the servicing mission to Hubble could be reinstated in the future.

This picture of the Hubble Space Telescope orbiting Earth was taken from the Space Shuttle Columbia in March 2002. Click on image for full size (44K JPG) Image courtesy NASA.

NASA announced in January 2004 that it would cancel the last planned mission to the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). The head of NASA, Sean O'Keefe, believes a mission to Hubble would be too dangerous for the Space Shuttle. NASA is being very careful about Space Shuttle missions since the Columbia disaster.

NASA had planned to fly a Shuttle to Hubble sometime in 2006. During that mission astronauts were to replace several pieces of Hubble that are wearing out. They were also going to add in some new, more powerful instruments.

In a few years Hubble will begin to fail. Its batteries might wear out or its gyroscopes, which steer the telescope, may stop working. NASA plans to attach a rocket to Hubble in a few years and steer it towards Earth. Hubble will partly burn up in the atmosphere. The rest of Hubble will crash into an ocean far away from where people live.

NASA is making a new space telescope to replace Hubble. The new telescope is called the James Webb Space Telescope. Its mirror has an area six times as large as Hubble's mirror. The new telescope is supposed to be launched in 2011.

Some people think it is a mistake to cancel the mission to Hubble. They think it is safe enough to send astronauts to fix the telescope. Other people disagree and think it is too dangerous. NASA, President Bush, and the U.S. Congress are debating the issue.

This is a picture of Hubble above the Earth. The picture was taken by astronauts on the Space Shuttle. Click on image for full size (44K JPG) Image courtesy NASA.

The Hubble Space Telescope is getting old. Every few years it needs to have astronauts visit it and fix worn out parts. NASA had planned to have the Shuttle visit Hubble in 2006. However, NASA decided in January 2004 to cancel that mission. NASA thinks it is too dangerous to send a mission to Hubble. NASA is being very careful about Space Shuttle missions since the Columbia disaster.

Without the repair mission Hubble may stop working in a few years. It has batteries that might wear out. Hubble also has gyroscopes that help steer the telescope. Those gyroscopes may break down soon. Engineers think Hubble might stop working in 2006 or 2007. They can't tell for sure, though. Let's hope Hubble keeps working for a few more years!

NASA is making a new space telescope. The new telescope is called the James Webb Space Telescope. The new telescope is much larger than Hubble.

NASA has a plan for Hubble when it finally stops working. NASA will attach a rocket to Hubble. The rocket will steer Hubble towards Earth. Hubble will crash-land in an ocean, far away from places where people live.