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The world's first 'space telescope rescue mission' has failed. The US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announced on the 24th that it had given up on the 'Servicing Mission 4' to rescue the Hubble Space Telescope. The 'Servicing Mission 4' was a spacewalk repair mission that was launched on December 19 last year. The space shuttle Endeavour carrying a crew of seven astronauts, including veteran astronaut Joe Gibbs, who had previously performed spacewalk repairs on the Hubble Space Telescope four times, was dispatched. However, on the 24th, NASA announced that due to a malfunction in the shuttle's robotic arm, the mission had failed. The robotic arm, which was crucial for capturing the Hubble Space Telescope, had malfunctioned, making it impossible to approach the telescope. As a result, the seven astronauts on board, including Joe Gibbs, were forced to return to Earth without completing the rescue mission. The Hubble Space Telescope, launched in 1990, has been in operation for 16 years, exceeding its initial planned lifespan of 15 years. NASA had planned to extend its lifespan through this rescue mission. However, with this failure, the Hubble Space Telescope's future operations have become uncertain. The European Space Agency's (ESA) 'Gaia' spacecraft and NASA's 'James Webb Space Telescope' are scheduled to be launched in 2013 and 2014, respectively. These next-generation space telescopes are expected to replace the Hubble Space Telescope. However, there is still a possibility that the Hubble Space Telescope may continue to operate. NASA plans to closely monitor the situation and make a final decision on the future of the Hubble Space Telescope.

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