Bush's directive for NASA to resume lunar exploration shortens the Hubbell Telescope's lifespan.

Jan. 17, 2004: PoliSat .Com's Political Satire/ Commentary Daily Update # 01·· ™©·2004··
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Bush's directive for NASA to resume lunar exploration will shorten the Hubbell Telescope's lifespan.·

To implement Bush's directive to reallocate spending toward resuming manned exploration of the Moon, establishing a base on the Moon and sending a manned mission to Mars, NASA has cancelled plans for using the Space Shuttle to maintain the Hubbell Telescope. The Hubbell ranks as one of our greatest scientific achievements. Even more so was the stunning mission in orbit with astronauts replacing the nearsighted mirror to enable Hubbell to perform the mission for which it was designed. Equally stunning was the later mission in orbit with astronauts upgrading computers and other equipment on the Hubbell.

One wishes we could proceed with the new directives without abandoning the Hubbell, which, according to NASA, is not likely to continue functioning many years beyond 2007. (Canceling the Shuttle mission now scheduled for 2006 to service Hubbell reduces the chances that it will continue functioning until 2011 when it's replacement, the James Webb Space Telescope is scheduled for launch.) However, to foreswear resumption of lunar exploration (where abundant Helium 3 offers the potential for nearly limitless, environmentally friendly energy on what could become very cost-effective) and expansion of manned exploration to include Mars in order to continue servicing the Hubbell and making the Space Shuttle the centerpiece of space exploration would be as shortsighted as a quarterback calling the same running play on every down.

Aggressively returning to manned exploration of space will advance, not delay, the scientific progress needed to solve fundamental problems on Earth. Development of ion propulsion and Helium 3 as an energy source will ultimately improve the lot of everyone on Earth. Furthermore, development of better propulsion technology will enhance our (or our descendants') chances of preventing the next extinction-magnitude disaster like the one that made the dinosaurs extinct (or a "mini" disaster like the one that flattened a huge area in Siberia approximately 100 years ago, another of which is statistically due in the next few years and could just as easily hit New York as Siberian wastelands-- See also Asteroids/Comets.01.02.03.04.05.06.07.). Furthermore, the fact that we remain at risk of extinction makes it imperative to begin the first steps toward colonizing other planets sooner rather than later so that a future extinction-magnitude event on Earth won't extinguish the human race from the Universe.

The Man in the Moon's spelling trouble for Hubbell and also the Shuttle.

The wonders revealed by the Hubbell
and prowess displayed with the Shuttle
are means not the ends
for Man to befriend
the Cosmos in which we are huddled.

It's time we and NASA resume
the walking of Man on the Moon
for proving the worth
of Man leaving Earth
for alternate places to room.

--Jim Wrenn, Editor@PoliSat.Com

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