NASA has decided to effectively srap the Hubble Space Telescope by canceling a servicing mission when the Shuttle becomes operational again. (See the NASA white paper defending this decision.)

The Mars Society joins many scientists, astronauts, and other space groups who are trying to save the Hubble. (See the Save the Hubble Web site.)

Here is a recent "Hubble Letter" from the Mars Society Web site:

In a letter to Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) made public today, Admiral Hal Gehman, the chairman of the Columbia Accident Investigation Board (CAIB), called for a review of NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe's decision to abandon the Hubble Space Telescope.

Administrator O'Keefe has claimed that Hubble missions are too dangerous to fly, and that that the recommendations of Gehman's CAIB forbid any Shuttle mission to Hubble. In a forceful rebuff to Mr. O'Keefe, Gehman explicitly denied both of these claims.

With respect to Mr. O'Keefe's claim that Hubble missions were substantially more dangerous than ISS missions, Gehman said: "Almost all the risk is concentrated in the front and back of the mission, where one goes on orbit makes little difference."

Gehman added that while ISS missions offer a "small" risk reduction relative to dealing with debris shredding events, "There are many other factors that influence the total risk equation, sometimes very significantly. One of the more significant factors is the heavy cargo loads that are frequently carried to ISS at high inclinations, which create risk factors of their own."

Gehman's citing of the greater ISS flight risk due to heavy loads and high inclination orbits (== freezing water North Atlantic launch aborts) is very welcome. These issues were first brought to widespread public attention by Mars Society President Dr. Robert Zubrin several widely circulated articles.

With respect to rejecting Mr. O'Keefe's claim that Gehman's CAIB report forbids a Hubble upgrade mission, Gehman was equally blunt, saying the CAIB report should be read as saying "Do the best you can." He added; "The CAIB allowed more latitude in complying with our recommendations for non-ISS missions, which may be slightly more risky, taking into account only the debris shredding threat to the Orbiter."

Gehman concluded, "only a deep and rich study of the entire gain/risk equation can answer the question of whether an extension of the life of the wonderful Hubble telescope is worth the risks involved."

Gehman's letter provides critical ammunition to those fighting to save Hubble. In a statement issued after the Gehman letter was made public, Representative Mark Udall (D-CO) the author of bipartisan congressional resolution to save Hubble (H Resolution 550) said; "I am pleased that Admiral Gehman agrees with Sen. Mikulski and those of us who have sponsored H. Res 550 that 'a deep and rich study of the entire gain/risk equation' is needed to determine the best course forward in servicing the Hubble space Telescope….I strongly believe that NASA Administrator O'Keefe should ask an independent panel, such as one organized by the National Research Council to [provide such a deep and rich study]. Only through such an independent review will it be possible to assess all our options for safely servicing Hubble."

"I am not prepared to accept such an arbitrary cancellation of the planned servicing mission to the Hubble in the absence of an independent review. Just yesterday, we had yet another reminder of the ways Hubble continues to rewrite the astronomy textbooks and fundamentally alter our worldview. We should do all that we can in a responsible fashion to ensure that this capability is not lost prematurely."

Udall's save Hubble bill now has 23 cosponsors. With O'Keefe's primary claims used to justify Hubble desertion now discredited, it should be possible to rapidly get more. Call your congressman today through the congressional switchboard at 202-224-3121. Ask to speak to his or her Legislative Assistant in charge of space policy, and then explain to that person that the congressman should become a cosponsor of H. Res 550.

For Hubble, for science, for the pioneer spirit, and for Mars: Was there ever a nobler cause? Call today. 202-224-3121.