President's Nominee To Lead NASA Wants Another Look At Rescue Mission

If NASA Administrator-designee Michael Griffin has his way, the beleagured Hubble Space Telescope may not be dead... yet.

But, in confirmation proceedings on Capitol Hill Tuesday, Griffin said he doesn't think it should be a robotic mission -- despite recent breaktrhoughs in telerobotic technology.

"I would like to take that off the plate," he said. But, he continued, "in light of what we learn" once the shuttle has flown, "I think we should revisit the earlier decision" to cancel a planned shuttle mission. Griffin was quoted in the Washington Post.

Griffin (below), who now heads up the Space Department at Johns Hopkins University, also pushed hard for a space vehicle to replace the aging shuttle fleet.

"I do not believe that we wish to see a situation where the United States is dependent on any partner. It seems unacceptable to me that it should take from 2005 to 2014" to develop a shuttle replacement, he said.

Griffin's Senate confirmation seemed virtually assured Tuesday as lawmakers said they realized the advantages of having a scientist run the nation's space agency.

"Much has been made of the fact that [Griffin] is a rocket scientist," said Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski (D-MD), who was also quoted by the Post. "Thank God."

If this scientist has his way, we'll see a resurgence in US space missions. And if he has his way, those missions won't be conducted with the help of other countries. Asked about recent Russian and Chinese manned missions since the destruction of Columbia in 2003, Griffin said, "I don't like that."

FMI: www.nasa.gov