The American Astronomical Society has endorsed a National Research Council recommendation that NASA should launch a crewed Space Shuttle mission to service the Hubble Space Telescope (HST), as early as possible.
The NRC says that a robotic mission would not be ready in time to service the HST and would be too risky and technologically challenging, as well expensive, given the timeframe.
The HST needs to be serviced before 2007 as key components such as batteries need to be replaced. The fifth and final Hubble Space Shuttle servicing mission, originally cancelled in favour of the robotic mission, could extend the life of the HST to 2013.
The mission would fly in a lower inclination orbit and be unable to use the International Space Station as a safe haven.
Source: Flight International
