NASA delays making a final decision on potential cost reductions that determine the fate of the Chandra X-ray Observatory and affect the Hubble Space Telescope science program. While no official explanation has been given as to the reason for the delay, it appears NASA is keeping its options open until it confirms its budget for the new fiscal year.

In what has become a long saga, Chandra’s neck remains on the chopping block. Together, the Hubble Space Telescope And Chandra X-ray Observatory represent 10% of NASA’s astrophysics budget. The two orbiting telescopes are part of NASA’s Great Observatories program, alongside the now defunct Spitzer Space Telescope and the Compton Gamma-ray Observatory. Although Hubble and Chandra are both in their final years, having been launched in 1990 and 1999 respectively, they both continue to produce valuable scientific data.