Posted: Sat, Dec 18, 2004, 5:40 PM ET (2240 GMT)
A General Accounting Office (GAO) report released Friday concluded that NASA has failed to develop a definitive cost estimate for either sending the shuttle to repair the Hubble Space Telescope or fully implementing the recommendations of the Columbia Accident Investigation Board (CAIB). The report, requested by Sens. Christopher Bond (R-MO) and Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), noted that NASA had not prepared a cost estimate for a shuttle servicing mission to Hubble but provided one at the request of the GAO. GAO found that estimate, of $1.7-2.4 billion, lacking in a number of supporting details. The report also noted that while NASA has estimates of the cost of returning the space shuttle to flight, it does not have an estimate for fully implementing all the recommendations in the CAIB's final report. NASA does estimate that implementing those recommendations needed to return the shuttle to flight will cost in excess of $2 billion, but that a final figure will not be available until the shuttle does fly again. The GAO also notes tat the $2-billion estimate was based on insufficient supporting documentation. The GAO is also studying the estimated costs of a robotic Hubble repair mission.

Related Links:

•  GAO report