NASA's decision to fix the Hubble telescope illustrates the difference between a scientist and a bean counter when one is heading a space agency.

No offense to former NASA head Sean O'Keefe, but he's an accountant by nature, who'd had previous jobs as comptroller in the Defense Department and deputy director of the Office of Management and Budget.

Even O'Keefe could appreciate the science community's applause when President Bush nominated Michael T. Griffin to replace him last year. To scientists, Griffin is one of them.

A Hubble mission will be dangerous. But Griffin is no cowboy who ignores risks. He's a scientist who includes them in his calculation.

No manned space flight is risk free. But the Hubble is worth the effort. It has provided invaluable information that has helped plot the location of black holes and determine the universe's age and size.

The 2008 mission will replace Hubble's gyroscopes, repair a spectrograph, and install a new camera. It's intricate work that requires human hands. Give Griffin credit for making the hard decision for that to happen.