Flaw in Hubble Telescope

I read with amusement Hughes Chairman Malcolm Currie’s attempt to distance Hughes Aircraft Co. from the Hubble Telescope failure (letter, July 5). Currie is correct, of course, in pointing out that Perkin-Elmer Corp., which manufactured the Hubble mirror, was acquired by Hughes and renamed Hughes Danbury Optical Systems only last year. Yet, in ads run prior to revelation of Hubble’s flawed mirror, Currie trumpeted the role of Hughes Danbury in the manufacture of the telescope. Hughes was no more entitled to claim credit for the anticipated success of Hubble then than it is obliged to assume blame for its failure now.

MICHAEL HORSTEIN

Los Angeles