Congress Members Probe Chandra X-ray Telescope's Future

Some lawmakers in the U. S. are digging deeper into NASA's plans for the Chandra X-ray Observatory. This telescope has been around for 25 years and its budget is in trouble. In a letter sent to the Chandra X-ray Center director, Patrick Slane, six members of Congress asked for more details about the telescope's operations and how cuts might affect it. NASA had proposed a big budget cut for Chandra, but they're now waiting for Congress to finish their spending bills before making a decision. The lawmakers are worried that shutting down Chandra could hurt U. S. leadership in astronomy. They asked about the telescope's scientific productivity, cost, and issues like thermal control. They also want to know how cuts to the "general observer" program would affect scientists. The letter asks for answers by November 15.