I would much rather it be used by another country with a better vision of the future of space science and humanity in general, or placed into a higher orbit to be preserved for the day when humanity is more enlightened, but if those ideas fail, then at least we could have saved it from such an ignominous oblivion.

HST is not just any old satellite. Something needs to be done with it besides scrapping it into the upper atmosphere. A few million dollars do not dissuade me, especially since the US public spends the initial cost of the Hubble in chewing gum each year.

As for astronauts risking their lives - no one made them take that job, and if we worry about losing a life in the exploration of space, then we should not have a manned space program at all.

Dozens die in a needless war every day and 50,000 a year are killed on US highways, but I don't see the automobile being abandoned and as for that war, it is going to make Vietnam look like a picnic. When I see the HST being abandoned and space science set back, I have little sympathy for anyone whining to me about the relatively few dollars needed to save it and our future.