New Scientist Breaking News - Budget rumours hint at Hubble trouble

New Scientist Breaking News - Budget rumours hint at Hubble trouble: "The future of the Hubble Space Telescope is once again mired in confusion and controversy over media reports that NASA's 2006 budget will not include a mission to repair the ageing instrument. The reports quote unnamed officials from the White House and US Congress. But NASA will not confirm or deny the reports until 7 February 2005, when the budget will be sent to Congress. Astronomers and others have campaigned hard to save the productive but ailing instrument, proposing robot- or astronaut-based repair missions. The 14-year-old telescope is expected to fail in 2007 or 2008 unless it receives new batteries and gyroscopes."