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Shuttle blasts off into space to repair Hubble telescope
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Cape Canaveral, Fla.-- It was a remarkable and memorable time in NASA's history. Space shuttle Atlantis was launched into space Monday afternoon on one last mission to repair the Hubble Space Telescope.
A crew of seven astronauts will reach the space telescope, which is 350 miles up, on Wednesday. Their mission included five planned spacewalks that will repair the orbiting observatory that's been scanning the universe for almost 2 decades.
NASA is eager that this repair mission will bring the observatory to new scientific heights.
The space team will make two spacewalks to repair Hubble's batteries and gyroscopes, and install two new cameras. They will also attempt a tricky task that has never been done before, fixing two broken science instruments that were not designed to be fiddled with.
On their 11 day mission, the crew will also remove the science data-handling unit that failed in September. They will add fresh insulting covers to the outside of the telescope and will install a new five guidance sensor for pointing.
It's been seven years since Hubble's last servicing mission in 2002. NASA canceled the Atlantis mission in 2004 because they said it was too dangerous and risky in the wake of the 2003 Columbia tragedy that killed seven astronauts.
Full details about the Columbia incident: http://history.nasa.gov/columbia/Troxell/Columbia%20Web%20Site/CAIB/CAIB%20Website/news/FOAMIM%7E1.PDF
Scientists say the stakes are higher now because space has become more polluted with junk at Hubble's altitude due to satellite collisions and breakups.
Another space shuttle Endeavour was on a nearby launch pad set for a rescue mission if one is needed. The associated press says the rescue ship is ready to lift off with a week to save the crew aboard Atlantis and will remain on standby as little as three days from launching until Atlantis heads back home on May 22.
Hubble scientists and managers are bitter sweet about the final trip to their 19-year-old project that is way over due for a tuneup.
"I'm feeling wistful because this is the final mission," said senior project scientist David Leckrone. "It's the end to the era of Hubble servicing."
This is the last time a shuttle will fly somewhere other than the space station and NASA says it does not expect to have shuttles on both lunch pads again.
For more information on this space mission visit NASA's link: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/hubble/main/index.html
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