Hubble fate remains cloudy

WASHINGTON – The Hubble space telescope’s future remained in doubt Monday as NASA officials declined to discuss a report that the Bush administration won’t seek funding for a rescue mission in the coming fiscal year.

Space News first reported the development, attributing the information to government and industry sources who were not named.

“It would not be appropriate to discuss information regarding the president’s budget before it is ready for release,” said a spokesman at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

The Bush administration’s proposed budget will come out in February, beginning a monthslong process in which Congress and the White House will work out final spending levels for all federal agencies.

Hubble, in orbit for 14 years, became a political football last year when NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe canceled a long-scheduled servicing mission to the scientific instrument citing shuttle safety concerns. The decision set off a furious lobbying effort by fans of the tractor-trailer-sized telescope.

O’Keefe agreed to consider a robotic repair mission, and until recently, he expressed optimism about such a plan.

But in December, a National Academy of Sciences panel of experts concluded a robotic mission would be too far-fetched with a high probability of failure. The panel recommended NASA proceed with a shuttle mission to Hubble to make necessary repairs.

O’Keefe dismissed the report as little more than guesswork.

Lawmakers are concerned about the fate of Hubble, hailed as one of the most important scientific instruments ever built. Without certain repairs, the 12-ton telescope could come crashing back to Earth by 2007 or 2008.

“I hope it’s not the case,” said Rep. Bart Gordon, D-Tenn., of the House Science Committee. “The Hubble is the world’s premier scientific instrument.”