NASA Will End the Search to Save Hubble

The US government has asked NASA to stop trying rescue Hubble, and instead focus on a way to safely deorbit the space-based observatory. This is based on the White House's 2006 budget request, which doesn't include any funds to save Hubble, but a small amount to attach a propulsion module to Hubble that would safely deorbit it into the Pacific Ocean. Outgoing NASA Administrator, Sean O'Keefe, is expected to announce this final decision during his February 7 public presentation of NASA's 2006 budget request. Hubble supporters are rallying to defend the great observatory, so the final chapter has yet to be written.