Robotic repair call to Hubble taking shape

[Khephra]

Robotic repair call to Hubble taking shape
By Dan Vergano, USA TODAY

WASHINGTON — NASA officials are starting to fill in the blanks on how they might rescue the Hubble Space Telescope with a robot.
In the process, they are defining the kinds of space exploration in which robots would be just as effective as astronauts, eliminating risks to human life in space.

Robots have long been a NASA mainstay — witness the success of the Mars rovers this year. But certain missions have always been set aside for astronauts. Repairs to Hubble have been among those missions — until now.

First details about possible robotic rescue missions were presented last week before a National Academy of Sciences panel. Though Hubble is likely to keep functioning for years even without a mission, the timetable for repairs demands that decisions be made soon. Final mission proposals are due in July; contract awards are planned before October if the robot mission is approved.

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http://www.usatoday.com/news/science/2004-06-07-hubble-usat_x.htm