Just announced this morning.

(but we all figured it would be).

Shuttle astronauts will make one final house call to NASA's Hubble Space Telescope as part of a mission to extend and improve the observatory's capabilities through 2013.

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/hu...ing/index.html

Hi Kevn, Finally, they decide to do something right.

Hubble ST ...Si! Mars mission NON !
Near orbit missions pay the best and do the most.
And, come to think of it, could we build just a few more Hubble ST 's ?
Is that so wrong?
Best regards, Dan

I am pleased to hear NASA has decided to upgrade and service the Hubble. If the images inspire today's younger generation to be more involved then it was worth it for that reason alone.

So from the BA's blog:

Does this mean no more "batwing" photos

Wouldn't that only be needed if they're open to FURTHER missions???

Indeed this is great news - I wouldn't actually be surprised if there's a further servicing mission at some point in the future - which would again extend Hubble's life expectancy. - if only because the replacement telescope is sure to slip (because of budgetary cutbacks for instance) in terms of when it will actually come on line.

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"All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed, second it is violently opposed, and third, it is accepted as self-evident." Arthur Schopenhauer - renowned 19th Century German philosopher.