exploration

NASA Administrator Michael Griffin’s confirmation testimony, in addition to showing a certain wit, also showed the wisdom of a seasoned engineer. Such wisdom was particularly clear in his testimony on the future of the Hubble Space Telescope. In response to a direct question from Sen. Mark Pryor (D-Ark.), Griffin responded: “And so I believe that the choice comes down to reinstating a shuttle servicing mission or possibly a very simple robotic de orbiting mission. The decision not to execute the planned shuttle servicing mission was made in the immediate aftermath of the loss of Columbia. When we return to flight, it will be with essentially a new vehicle, which will have a new risk analysis associated with it and so on and so forth. At that time, I think we should reassess the earlier decision, and in light of what we learn after we return to flight we should revisit the earlier decision.”