Hoyer Supports Extensive Study of Hubble Telescope Servicing Mission

WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman Steny Hoyer released the following statement today following the release of a study by Admiral Harold Gehman regarding the cancelled servicing mission to the Hubble telescope. Admiral Gehman provided his views to Senator Barbara Mikulski at the request of NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe. The Hubble Space Telescope is managed and operated by Goddard Space Flight Center, located in Congressman Hoyer's district, for the Office of Space Science at NASA Headquarters.

"I strongly support the conclusion drawn by Admiral Gehman, that it is premature to suggest that the Shuttle is unsafe and should be abandoned. And, I agree with his recommendation that an in-depth study of the gains and risks associated with future Shuttle missions is needed and I urge the National Academy of Sciences and the General Accounting Office to expedite this study.

"The stunning photographs of the Ultra Deep Field taken by Hubble and released just this week illustrate how critically important Hubble is to furthering our understanding and exploration of distant galaxies. To abandon a widely regarded scientific treasure like the Hubble by canceling the next servicing mission seems to be hasty and shortsighted."

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"I strongly support the conclusion drawn by Admiral Gehman, that it is premature to suggest that the Shuttle is unsafe and should be abandoned. And, I agree with his recommendation that an in-depth study of the gains and risks associated with future Shuttle missions is needed and I urge the National Academy of Sciences and the General Accounting Office to expedite this study.

"The stunning photographs of the Ultra Deep Field taken by Hubble and released just this week illustrate how critically important Hubble is to furthering our understanding and exploration of distant galaxies. To abandon a widely regarded scientific treasure like the Hubble by canceling the next servicing mission seems to be hasty and shortsighted."

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