Building Careers and Shaping Public Policy

25 May 2005

Michael D. Griffin, Ph.D.
Administrator
National Aeronautics and Astronautics Administration
Washington, DC 20546-0001

Dear Dr. Griffin

On behalf of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers-United States of America (IEEE-USA), I would like to commend you for your recent decision to task Goddard Space Center to develop a plan to maintain the Hubble Space Telescope, as you stated before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, and Science on May 12, 2005. We strongly concur with your statement at the Senate hearing that "This investment in the Hubble will ensure many years of new scientific discoveries."

As an organization of engineers and technical professionals, we support exploring all possible avenues to prolong the useful life of the Hubble telescope for the benefit of science and humanity. The Hubble has proven to be one of the most productive scientific instruments in the history of mankind and still continues to provide invaluable data on the immense wonders of our cosmos. We are encouraged that you have heard and taken to heart the overwhelming support from the science and engineering community and the public at large for preserving and extending the life of the HST.

Sincerely,

Gerard A. Alphonse
President, IEEE-USA