Hutchison presses Bush to save Hubble telescope

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/nation/2596207

Hutchison presses Bush to save Hubble telescope
Senator backs petition to send service mission
By PATTY REINERT
Copyright 2004 Houston Chronicle Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON -- Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, has joined the campaign to save the Hubble Space Telescope, siding with 26 former astronauts who want NASA to reinstate a manned shuttle mission that could fix and salvage the aging scientific eye.

In a letter sent to the White House on Thursday, Hutchison urged President Bush to reconsider plans to retire Hubble, saying it has "not yet outlived its scientific usefulness" and that NASA has nothing comparable to succeed it.

She attached to the letter a petition signed by 26 former astronauts, including Apollo veteran Walter Cunningham of Houston, Mercury's Scott Carpenter and Gene Cernan, the last man to walk on the moon.

The group of astronauts had sought the support of Hutchison, who serves on the Senate committee that oversees NASA as well as on the powerful Appropriations Committee that controls its funding. Cunningham asked Hutchison to deliver the petition to the White House, hoping that her clout would add to their own.

it wouldn't mitigate her boneheaded up positions on 99.99999999 percent of the issues.

I'm rather stunned to see her oppose Bushy on this.

Washington D.C. has ever seen.

Those astronauts are delusional to believe that Senator Hutchison has any clout anywhere. Kay goes which ever way the wind blows.

while a puke, she's not a nutcase as witnessed by this letter. She's appproachable and will listen. I don't like the idea of yet another puke as governor here, but I can definitely live with Hutchinson or even Carol Keeton ABCDEf?...

It is the best thing NASA has done -- so much information! So much beauty!

http://www.wgoeshome.com

nt

like the ones that figgered out that Evuuuulooootion thang.

Commies, one and all!

</sarcsam off>

Sriously, this isn't about science. It's about Texas Pork...nothing more, nothing less.

Plus, with Bunnypants* putting on his Human Face for the "election", I could very easily see him restoring some Texas Pork.

Science has NOTHING to do with this. NOTHING!

Science, macho or no, has NOTHING to do with it.

No?

Then Fuck it.

I took a tour up to the top of Mauna Kea in Hawaii (in the snow!) where there are about 11 of the world's largest telescopes. The guide (a scientist) said the technology they use now enables them to see as far as Hubble and without the distortion of the Earth's atmosphere.

I'm not saying they shouldn't try and continue getting use out of Hubble...but it's good to know the science won't actually be lost.

none of the things you say, but I have seen lots, and I mean LOTS from hubble. anyway have a great hubbleday... Just being a smartass

And that instrument package is supposed to make it four times more powerful. The benefits are defiantly worth the risk. Those damn idiots at NASA need to learn how to grow a spine.