The Hubble Space Telescope has performed some of the most innovative graphic discovery tasks in the history of astronomy, recording spectacular phenomena, like this star-forming region of the 30 Doradus Nebula.

The program to maintain and upgrade the Hubble Space Telescope will no longer be funded by the NASA budget, according to a ruling made by NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe. The decision sparked a backlash of criticism and second-guessing, with many astronauts saying they had and would again risk their lives to maintain Hubble. The telescope has been called "the greatest instrument that ever was" and has produced more revolutionary discoveries in astronomy than any other single device.

As a result of the backlash, a resolution has been introduced in the House of Representatives to save the Hubble. NASA maintains that the project is just too risky, in light of the Columbia disaster, though many in the field have put forth options which would facilitate safety enhancements, or have argued that the alternative budget priorities (manned missions to the Moon and to Mars) would be incalculably more dangerous and could cost tens of billions of dollars more. [For more: Space.com]

REVOLUTIONARY HUBBLE TELESCOPE FIRST CASUALTY OF MARS BUDGET SHIFT
17 January 2004

NASA has announced it will no longer fund maintenance for the Hubble telescope. While the cost of maintaining and refurbishing the telescope is high, its scientific yield is virtually without parallel. Many of the most important discoveries in astronomy in recent years have been achieved through use of the Hubble. It is now thought that the telescope has only a 50% chance of surviving till 2007. [Full Story]