Hubble Telescope Mission Is a Triumph for Science

NASA Administrator Michael Griffin’s announcement that there will be a critical space shuttle mission to service the Hubble Space Telescope marks a victory for the nation and for my home state of Maryland. It is a triumph for science! Without question, Hubble has been the most successful NASA program since Apollo. And like Apollo, Hubble has helped America lead the way in discovery and exploration.

This servicing mission will give Hubble new scientific instruments, new batteries and new gyroscopes, making Hubble far more powerful than it is today. Hubble’s best and most productive period is ahead of it, not behind it. I am so proud of my long record of standing up for Hubble. It is Hubble that started this ‘Golden Age’ of exploration and discovery, and it is Hubble that has become America’s icon for exploration and discovery.