Despite Its Faults (and Costs), Hubble Remains Crucial

The Hubble Space Telescope has expanded our knowledge of black holes, so it’s ironic that critics complain the $9.6 billion device is sucking up money and energy that could be shifted to other programs. But, on CNET, Don Reisinger defends the telescope as earthlings’ best shot at unlocking the secrets of the universe, like determining its formation and exact age.

“Is it costly? Sure,” Reisinger concedes. “Could it have been built better to weather space conditions more effectively? Of course. But for all its faults and costs, they pale in comparison to all of the knowledge Hubble has given us. Simply put, the Hubble Space Telescope has proven its worth. And I don’t believe there’s any debating that argument.” (More Hubble Space Telescope stories.)