NASA to send maintenance crew to Hubble

Astronauts have been back to the Hubble three more times. But the most important trip since 1993 will likely come in 2008. On Tuesday, NASA Administrator Michael Griffin announced a final service call to Hubble, reversing a decision by his predecessor, Sean O'Keefe, who had opted to let the space telescope die within the next few years rather than approve a mission that was seen as particularly risky after the Columbia disaster. This new mission will upgrade key parts and extend Hubble's life to about 2013.

Griffin made the right call. This mission poses more risks than most, but preserving one of NASA's most successful programs warrants it. The shuttle, moreover, has no other major duties besides completing the International Space Station, a program that faces an iffy future.