BALTIMORE (Associated Press) - Rodger Doxsey, an early leader of the Hubble Space Telescope's science team, has died at age 62, according to the Hubble Web site.

Doxsey, head of the Space Telescope Science Institute's Hubble Mission Office, died of cancer Tuesday after entering a hospice over the weekend.

The Schenectady, N.Y. native was hired in 1981, nine years before the telescope was launched. Ken Sembach, Hubble project scientist at the institute, said Doxsey was involved in the day-to-day operations of the telescope for almost two decades after its launch and also worked on instrument development and hired many institute employees.

Despite his illness, institute spokesman Ray Villard said Doxsey was involved in preparations for Hubble's final servicing mission in May.