Saving Hubble - Resolution Introduced

Resolution Introduced to Save Hubble

March 4, 2004 -- Congressman Mark Udall introduced a resolution to
save the Hubble Telescope.

In addition to Udall, there are at least seven (five Democratic and
two Republican) co-sponsors to the bill. There needs to be more.

Please contact your congressman and ask them to become a co-sponsor
of this bill.

Here's the press release issued by Udall's office in conjunction
with the resolution:

UDALL INTRODUCES RESOLUTION TO SAVE HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE

(Washington, D.C.) -- Congressman Mark Udall (D-CO) today introduced
a House resolution urging that an independent panel review NASA
Administrator Sean O'Keefe's decision not to extend the life of the
Hubble Space Telescope, thus condemning the Hubble to a premature
death. The resolution also urges NASA to continue planning for
Hubble's next servicing mission as NASA develops its inspection and
repair capability, which will enable shuttles to fly both to the
International Space Station and to the Hubble Space Telescope.
Reps. Todd Akin (R-MO), Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD), Bart Gordon (D-TN),
Steny Hoyer (D-MD), Nick Lampson (D-TX), Jim McDermott (D-WA), and
C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD) joined Rep. Udall as original
cosponsors.

Rep. Udall stated: "My goal in introducing this resolution is
simple -- I want to call attention to the Hubble Space Telescope's
contributions to scientific research and education and ensure that
any decision affecting its future is made carefully and seriously
and for the right reasons. Precisely because of Hubble's
extraordinary contributions in the past and promised contributions
in the future, I also believe it is important that the decision to
cancel the planned servicing mission to Hubble be reviewed by an
independent panel of experts and all options for safely carrying it
out be examined.

"I also want to try to ensure that preparations for the servicing
mission continue at least until the panel comes up with its
recommendations and until NASA provides its timetable for complying
with recommendations of the Columbia Accident Investigation Board
report relating to on-orbit inspection and repair, since NASA's
compliance will allow both a Hubble servicing mission and a mission
to the International Space Station to be carried out safely.

"Hubble's scientific contributions continue to amaze us all, year in
and year out. Hubble remains one of the most productive scientific
instruments in history, and certainly NASA's most productive
scientific mission, accounting for 35 percent of all its discoveries
in the last 20 years.

"This resolution will be welcomed by scientists and interested
citizens in this country and around the world who understand that
Hubble is a national treasure that we should not abandon. The
potential gains from extending Hubble's life are real and achievable
and I believe we should not arbitrarily cancel the servicing mission
without exploring all options for safely carrying it out."

The text of the resolution is available at
http://www.house.gov/science_democrats/releases/udall_hubble_resoluti
on_04mar03.pdf

Mr. Udall's statement introducing the bill can be found at:
http://www.house.gov/science_democrats/releases/udall_hubble_statemen
t_04mar03.pdf

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