Assessment Of Options For Extending The Life Of The Hubble Space Telescope: Final Report Extending The Life Of The Hubble Space Telescope Lanzerotti Report

The Hubble Space Telescope (HST) has operated continuously since 1990. During that time, four space shuttle-based service missions were launched, three of which added major observational capabilities. A fifth ? SM-4 ? was intended to replace key telescope systems and install two new instruments. The loss of the space shuttle Columbia, however, resulted in a decision by NASA not to pursue the SM-4 mission leading to a likely end of Hubble's useful life in 2007-2008. This situation resulted in an unprecedented outcry from scientists and the public. As a result, NASA began to explore and develop a robotic servicing mission; and Congress directed NASA to request a study from the National Research Council (NRC) of the robotic and shuttle servicing options for extending the life of Hubble. This report presents an assessment of those two options. It provides an examination of the contributions made by Hubble and those likely as the result of a servicing mission, and a comparative analysis of the potential risk of the two options for servicing Hubble. The study concludes that the Shuttle option would be the most effective one for prolonging Hubble's productive life. The loss of the space shuttle Columbia resulted in a decision by NASA not to pursue the SM-4 mission leading to an end of Hubble's life in 2007-2008. The Congress directed NASA to request a study of the robotic and shuttle servicing options for extending the life of Hubble. This report presents an assessment of those two options. Committee On The Assessment Of Options For Extending The Life Of The Hubble Space Telescope, Space Studies Board, Aeronautics And Space Engineering Board, Division On Engineering And Physical Sciences, National Research Council Of The National Academies ; [louis J. Lanzerotti, Chair]. Also Available Via The World Wide Web.