Don't forget STIS.... (Score 1)

Full disclosure -- I work for NASA, on HST. Servicing Mission 4 is going to be pretty busy: In addition to the three things mentioned in the summary (installing COS and WFC3, and repairing ACS), we're also going to be repairing STIS, replacing some thermal blankets, installing new batteries, etc. It's going to be a busy 5 days up there. As for some of the other comments on here: John Mather (the PI for COBE) is a friend of mine, and even he wouldn't claim that COBE did better science than Hubble. They're different things, and both have done fantastic science. Further, I would point out that NASA has had a vast array of scientific successes, including the rovers on Mars, Deep Impact, the Spitzer Space Telescope, Chandra, etc. etc. Just because the media gets more interested when something goes "boom"... sheesh. Oh, and those of you inclined to give advice to NASA about how to engineer... Talk to me after you've put a telescope in space (no, seriously, after you've done that, I want to talk to you!)