05-R 058

2005 -- S 0647

Enacted 02/15/05

S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N

REQUESTING THAT NASA FUND REPAIRS TO THE HUBBLE TELESCOPE

Introduced By: Senators Blais, Bates, Breene, and Algiere

Date Introduced: February 15, 2005

     WHEREAS, In 1962 the National Academy of Sciences recommended building a large

space telescope; and

     WHEREAS, In 1977 Congress voted to fund the project and construction of the Hubble

Space Telescope began; and

     WHEREAS, Construction of the Hubble Space Telescope was completed in 1985 and

was launched by the space shuttle on April 25, 1990; and

     WHEREAS, Since then the Hubble Telescope has made some incredible discoveries and

taken many breathtaking pictures; and

     WHEREAS, In June of 1994, NASA released Orion Nebula images that confirm the birth

of planets around newborn stars. In November of 1995, NASA released Eagle Nebula images

that showed where stars are born; and

     WHEREAS, Perhaps the Hubble Telescope's most amazing discovery occurred in

January of 1996 when NASA released the "Deep Field" images in which the Hubble Telescope

peered back in time more than ten billion years and revealed at least 1,500 galaxies at various

stages of development; and

     WHEREAS, If NASA does not fund repairs to the Hubble Telescope, humanity and

science will be denied access to a plethora of amazing discoveries and wondrous pictures; now,

therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

hereby requests that NASA fund repairs to the Hubble Telescope; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and be hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the Director of NASA.

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LC02222

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