[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 39 (Thursday, March 25, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3191-S3192]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS
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SENATE RESOLUTION 324--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE RELATING TO
THE EXTRAORDINARY CONTRIBUTIONS RESULTING FROM THE HUBBLE SPACE
TELESCOPE TO SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND EDUCATION, AND TO THE NEED TO
RECONSIDER FUTURE SERVICE MISSIONS TO THE HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE
Ms. MIKULSKI (for herself and Mr. Brownback) submitted the following
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science,
and Transportation:
S. Res. 324
Whereas discoveries from the Hubble Space Telescope have
dominated space science news over the last 10 years;
Whereas the Hubble Space Telescope has provided proof of
black holes, insights into the birth and death of stars,
spectacular views of Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9's collision with
Jupiter, the age of the Universe, and evidence that the
expansion of the Universe is accelerating;
Whereas the inspiring scientific discoveries from the
Hubble Space Telescope reach millions of students each year
and have been important in encouraging students to study the
sciences;
Whereas the inspiring scientific discoveries from the
Hubble Space Telescope reach millions of students each year
and have been important in encouraging students to study the
sciences;
Whereas the 2000 National Academy of Sciences Decadal
Survey endorsed a plan to maintain the Hubble Space Telescope
until 2010;
Whereas the Hubble Space Telescope has been the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration's most scientifically
productive mission, accounting for 35 percent of all National
Aeronautics and Space Administration discoveries in the last
20 years;
Whereas the demand for research time on the Hubble Space
Telescope in 2003 was approximately 8 times that available;
Whereas approximately $200,000,000 worth of instruments
have largely been built, including scientific instruments
that would provide significant improvements in Hubble's
scientific power and including replacement gyroscopes and
batteries, which could keep the telescope in operation until
2011 or 2012 and make the Hubble Space Telescope's final
years its most scientifically capable and productive;
Whereas the distinguished panel that studied scientific
priorities for ultraviolet and optical astronomy in 2003
considered the continued operation of the Hubble Space
Telescope by means of the SM-4 servicing mission to be its
highest priority; and
Whereas the American Astronomical Society, the largest
professional scientific association for astronomers and
astrophysicists, believes a panel of experts should review
the decision to limit prematurely the lifespan of the Hubble
Space Telescope: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) recognizes the extraordinary contributions resulting
from the Hubble Space Telescope to scientific research and
education;
(2) strongly recommends that the Administrator of the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration appoint an
independent panel of expert scientists and engineers inside
and outside of the National Aeronautics
[[Page S3192]]
and Space Administration to examine all possible options for
safely carrying out the planned servicing mission to the
Hubble Space Telescope and assess alternative servicing
methods; and
(3) expresses its strong sentiment that the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration should continue all
planning, preparation, and astronaut training activities for
the SM-4 servicing mission without interruption until the
expert panel issues its report and until the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration provides a timetable of
compliance with recommendation R6.4-1 of the Columbia
Accident Investigation Board report, which calls for ``a
fully autonomous capability for all missions to address the
possibility that an International Space Station mission fails
to achieve the correct orbit, fails to dock successfully, or
is damaged during or after undocking'', since National
Aeronautics and Space Administration compliance with the
recommendation will allow both a Hubble servicing mission and
missions to the International Space Station to be carried out
safely.
Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, I rise to submit a Senate Resolution
with my distinguished colleague from Kansas, Senator Brownback. This
Resolution expresses the desire of the Senate for NASA to undertake a
comprehensive independent review of the decision to terminate the final
servicing mission for the Hubble Space Telescope and that all planning
and preparation activities continue during this period.
On January 14, 2004, the NASA Administrator announced that he was
terminating the final servicing mission for the Hubble Telescope that
was scheduled to be launched in 2007.
When the NASA Administrator announced his decision, I was shocked.
Hubble has been the most successful NASA program since Apollo. In fact,
it is arguably the greatest scientific instrument since Galileo's
telescope.
Pictures from Hubble have helped scientists prove that the universe
is expanding, that black holes exist, and how stars are born and how
stars die.
Earlier this month, the Space Telescope Science Institute released
what may be considered the greatest photograph ever taken of the
universe. It is a picture showing what the universe was like almost 12
billion years ago. Galaxies and stars never seen before are shown in
extraordinary detail that will usher in a new era of discovery for
years to come.
With the scientific value of Hubble undisputed, I was shocked that
there was no report, analysis or study that supported the
Administrator's decision.
It is imperative that we have a full understanding of all the issues,
including the potential risks, scientific benefits and alternative
servicing methods for a Hubble servicing mission. This decision is too
important to be left to just one person. We need the best advice from
the best minds to determine Hubble's future.
Let me be clear. I want to stand up for Hubble. I will always stand
up for the safety of our astronauts. We must do everything possible to
ensure the safety of our astronauts, whether they are traveling to the
Space Station or fixing Hubble. Putting safety first means that NASA
must fully implement all of the recommendations of the Columbia
Accident Investigation Board as soon as possible. As the Ranking Member
of the Appropriations Subcommittee that funds NASA, working on a bi-
partisan basis with my distinguished colleague from Missouri, Senator
Bond, we are committed to providing whatever resources are needed to
ensure that safety of our astronauts and the safety of the Space
Shuttle.
Before an irrevocable decision is made about Hubble's future, I want
the best minds in science and engineering to tell us what are the risks
and how can we reduce them.
I know many of my colleagues share these concerns. That's why Senator
Brownback and I are submitting this resolution today. The decision to
terminate the Hubble servicing mission represents a major change in our
science and space policies. Congress, the American people and the world
deserve nothing less than a rigorous and independent review so we can
fully understand all of the issues surrounding a servicing mission.
Finally, I want to thank the outstanding employees of the Goddard
Space Flight Center and Space Telescope Science Institute. Without
their hard work and dedication to the cause of science, exploration and
discovery, Hubble would not be what it is today, the greatest
scientific instrument mankind has ever created.
Mr. BROWNBACK. Mr. President, I recognize the significant scientific
accomplishments of the Hubble Space Telescope. Space telescopes such as
Hubble are an important part of our future space program and the
President's vision for revitalized human exploration of space.
Several months ago NASA made a decision to forego planned Space
Shuttle servicing missions for the Hubble Space Telescope. This is a
difficult and complicated issue and technical experts reasonably differ
on the best approach. I believe that NASA might benefit from the
counsel of the best experts the nation can muster inside and outside of
the Government. Correspondingly, I've joined my colleague Senator
Mikulski in urging NASA to sponsor a comprehensive study on the full
range of options and risks associated with various approaches for
maintaining the Hubble Space Telescope and its capabilities. I would
also hope that this study would include imaginative new concepts for
robotic servicing.
As we fulfill the promise of space exploration the President has
outlined, the enormous success of the Hubble Space Telescope and other
NASA successes such as the recent Mars Rover Program provide us with a
sound basis upon which to build. NASA can count on my continued support
of their endeavors to provide unlimited opportunity to future
generations of Americans.
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