Another Servicing Mission to Extend Hubble Space Telescope’s Science past the Next Decade. (arXiv:1907.04886v1 [astro-ph.IM])
<a href="http://arxiv.org/find/astro-ph/1/au:+Lopez_Morales_M/0/1/0/all/0/1">Mercedes L&#xf3;pez-Morales</a>, <a href="http://arxiv.org/find/astro-ph/1/au:+France_K/0/1/0/all/0/1">Kevin France</a>, <a href="http://arxiv.org/find/astro-ph/1/au:+Ferraro_F/0/1/0/all/0/1">Francesco R. Ferraro</a>, <a href="http://arxiv.org/find/astro-ph/1/au:+Chandar_R/0/1/0/all/0/1">Rupali Chandar</a>, <a href="http://arxiv.org/find/astro-ph/1/au:+Finkelstein_S/0/1/0/all/0/1">Steven Finkelstein</a>, <a href="http://arxiv.org/find/astro-ph/1/au:+Charlot_S/0/1/0/all/0/1">Stephane Charlot</a>, <a href="http://arxiv.org/find/astro-ph/1/au:+Ballester_G/0/1/0/all/0/1">Gilda Ballester</a>, <a href="http://arxiv.org/find/astro-ph/1/au:+Bersten_M/0/1/0/all/0/1">Melina. C. Bersten</a>, <a href="http://arxiv.org/find/astro-ph/1/au:+Diego_J/0/1/0/all/0/1">Jos&#xe9; M. Diego</a>, <a href="http://arxiv.org/find/astro-ph/1/au:+Folatelli_G/0/1/0/all/0/1">Gast&#xf3;n Folatelli</a>, <a href="http://arxiv.org/find/astro-ph/1/au:+Garcia_Senz_D/0/1/0/all/0/1">Domingo Garc&#xed;a-Senz</a>, <a href="http://arxiv.org/find/astro-ph/1/au:+Giavalisco_M/0/1/0/all/0/1">Mauro Giavalisco</a>, <a href="http://arxiv.org/find/astro-ph/1/au:+Jansen_R/0/1/0/all/0/1">Rolf A. Jansen</a>, <a href="http://arxiv.org/find/astro-ph/1/au:+Kelly_P/0/1/0/all/0/1">Patrick L. Kelly</a>, <a href="http://arxiv.org/find/astro-ph/1/au:+Maccarone_T/0/1/0/all/0/1">Thomas Maccarone</a>, <a href="http://arxiv.org/find/astro-ph/1/au:+Redfield_S/0/1/0/all/0/1">Seth Redfield</a>, <a href="http://arxiv.org/find/astro-ph/1/au:+Ruiz_Lapuente_P/0/1/0/all/0/1">Pilar Ruiz-Lapuente</a>, <a href="http://arxiv.org/find/astro-ph/1/au:+Shore_S/0/1/0/all/0/1">Steve Shore</a>, <a href="http://arxiv.org/find/astro-ph/1/au:+Kallivayalil_N/0/1/0/all/0/1">Nitya Kallivayalil</a>, <a href="http://arxiv.org/find/astro-ph/1/au:+co_signers_2/0/1/0/all/0/1">229 co-signers</a>

The Hubble Space Telescope has produced astonishing science over the past
thirty years. Hubble’s productivity can continue to soar for years to come
provided some worn out components get upgraded. While powerful new ground-based
and space telescopes are expected to come online over the next decade, none of
them will have the UV capabilities that make Hubble a unique observatory.
Without Hubble, progress in UV and blue optical astrophysics will be halted.
Observations at these wavelengths are key for a range of unresolved
astrophysics questions, ranging from the characterization of solar system
planets to understanding interaction of galaxies with the intergalactic medium
and the formation history of the universe. Hubble will remain our only source
of high-angular resolution UV imaging and high-sensitivity UV spectroscopy for
the next two decades, offering the ability for continued unique science and
maximizing the science return from complementary observatories. Therefore, we
recommend that NASA, ESA, and the private sector study the scientific merit,
technical feasibility, and risk of a new servicing mission to Hubble to boost
its orbit, fix aging components, and expand its instrumentation. Doing so
would: 1) keep Hubble on its path to reach its unmet full potential, 2) extend
the mission’s lifetime past the next decade, which will maximize the synergy of
Hubble with other upcoming facilities, and 3) enable and enhance the
continuation of scientific discoveries in UV and optical astrophysics.

The Hubble Space Telescope has produced astonishing science over the past
thirty years. Hubble’s productivity can continue to soar for years to come
provided some worn out components get upgraded. While powerful new ground-based
and space telescopes are expected to come online over the next decade, none of
them will have the UV capabilities that make Hubble a unique observatory.
Without Hubble, progress in UV and blue optical astrophysics will be halted.
Observations at these wavelengths are key for a range of unresolved
astrophysics questions, ranging from the characterization of solar system
planets to understanding interaction of galaxies with the intergalactic medium
and the formation history of the universe. Hubble will remain our only source
of high-angular resolution UV imaging and high-sensitivity UV spectroscopy for
the next two decades, offering the ability for continued unique science and
maximizing the science return from complementary observatories. Therefore, we
recommend that NASA, ESA, and the private sector study the scientific merit,
technical feasibility, and risk of a new servicing mission to Hubble to boost
its orbit, fix aging components, and expand its instrumentation. Doing so
would: 1) keep Hubble on its path to reach its unmet full potential, 2) extend
the mission’s lifetime past the next decade, which will maximize the synergy of
Hubble with other upcoming facilities, and 3) enable and enhance the
continuation of scientific discoveries in UV and optical astrophysics.

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