EDITORIAL\Lessons from space\Hubble, Galileo missions illustrate value of unmanned vehicles.

JANUARY has been an exciting month for astronomers and other space scientists.

It began last week with the release of images captured by the once trouble-plagued Hubble Space Telescope. Those pictures gave scientists their most detailed glimpses yet of the far reaches of space, revealing thousands of galaxies never seen before. Pictures produced by the space telescope also are allowing scientists to witness both the birth and death of stars.

Then there are the discoveries by the Galileo space probe of Jupiter. Scientists have learned that Jupiter, the largest planet in the solar system, has far less water, methane and helium than previously believed. This new information raises doubts about previous theories of how planets were formed.

The information beamed back to Earth by the Hubble Space Telescope and the Galileo probe demonstrates several things.

One, of course, is that there remains a lot to learn in space - including whether life exists on other planets. (The recent discovery of two planets outside the solar system with characteristics similar to Earth's is making the search for life elsewhere in the universe all the more exciting.)

Another is that much can be learned from unmanned space probes, which are far less costly - and risky - than manned missions. Indeed, these new achievements should raise questions about the desirability of manned missions, especially the international space station that is estimated to cost an astounding $72.3 billion through 2012.

The cost of the station is not, however, its only problem. The space station is inconsistent with the new emphasis by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration on doing things less expensively. One of NASA's most promising programs is its New Millennium Initiative, which contemplates sending microsatellites to other planets and developing a new generation of small spacecraft and launchers.

The space station is a relic of the Cold War that has become increasingly irrelevant. It's biggest defenders these days are its contractors and members of Congress who want to protect jobs back home.

Jobs, of course, are important. But jobs alone cannot justify wasting the taxpayers' money on pricey make-work space projects - especially when NASA can accomplish more with less.