One of the greatest scientific achievements of mankind, the Hubble Space Telescope, is in extreme peril.
The Hubble Space Telescope can see further into the Universe and tell us more than any other Telescope, Yet NASA seems intent on not sending a "shuttle servicing mission" to repair the Hubble.
NASA instead seems intent on Sending a "robotic repair mission." Is this a good idea?
At the request of Congress, the National Academy of Sciences (National Academies National Research Council) conducted a six month study. The committees twenty-one experts found "that a robotic mission would hold too many uncertainties, that it would probably be ready too late to extend the telescope's life and that it might actually damage the instrument" (The New York Times, December 9, 2004). Also, the National Academies Press Release of December 8, 2004 states that "the robot could critically damage the telescope."
Dr. Louis Lanzerotti, a physics professor at the New Jersey Institute of Technology and chairman of the panel assembled by the academy's National Research Council stated, "It is highly unlikely that the science life of Hubble would be extended with a robotic mission" (The New York Times, December 9, 2004).
Why does NASA insist on not sending a "shuttle service mission" to repair the Hubble Space Telescope? NASA claims it is too dangerous. However, The New York Times (December 9, 2004) stated that "the academy's report notes that NASA is planning 25 to 30 more shuttle missions~; to the space station and says the risks faced by a crew on a mission to the telescope would be similar to the risk of any single mission to the station." Who is contradicting whom?
After the panel report was issued, Mr. Sean O'Keefe, the head of NASA, "defended his decision to pursue a robotic repair mission to the Hubble Space Telescope" (Reuters, December 17, 2004). Mr. O'Keefe stated "The decision that I made I intend to stand by" (CBS News, December 17, 2004).
Even though Mr. O'Keefe will be leaving NASA, it is clear that Mr. O'Keefe's replacement will come to the same decision. (Also it is not clear when Mr. O'Keefe will be leaving NASA).
Mr. O'Keefe's decision is not a scientific decision. It is a political decision. From the very beginning, the idea of placing a Telescope in Space has been a constant battle. An excellent book on the subject, "THE HUBBLE WARS" by Eric Chaisson gives a detailed description of this "WAR".
Since NASA has made a political decision, the only way to Save the Hubble Space Telescope is to act politically. The key is a full public debate on sending a "shuttle service mission" to repair the Hubble. To get that open, public and continual debate we are proposing Local Referendums leading to, if necessary, a National Referendum. Local Referendums will require a full debate before people go to the polls to vote. These debates will show that the political decision made by NASA not to send a "shuttle service mission" to repair the Hubble Space Telescope is outrageous. These debates will show that "the emperor (NASA) has no clothes."