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NASA Plans Daring Hubble Fix

Unprecedented spacewalk will make for spiffier 'scope

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Jan 9, 2008 12:42 PM CST
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(Newser) – Astronauts will save—and drastically upgrade—the Hubble Space Telescope in an unprecedented mission this year, NewScientist Space reports. The mission will make the Hubble 90 times more powerful than it originally was, but will require spacewalkers to complete a delicate electronics repair job in zero gravity while wearing bulky spacesuits. Without the tune-up, Hubble would go offline by 2011.

After several rounds of practice in the pool (or “neutral buoyancy laboratory”), lead spacewalker John Grunsfeld thinks the risky repair is possible. “I still believe that Hubble science is something worth risking my life [for],” he said. “I know I have six other crew members who believe that as well.” But NASA is ready to delay the mission if it seems too dangerous.

An unprecedented mission this August will make the Hubble 90 times more powerful than it originally was, but will require spacewalkers to complete a delicate electronics repair job in zero gravity while wearing bulky spacesuits.
An unprecedented mission this August will make the Hubble 90 times more powerful than it originally was, but will require spacewalkers to complete a delicate electronics repair job in zero gravity while...   (Getty Images)
An astronaut conducts a spacewalk. An unprecedented mission this August will make the Hubble 90 times more powerful than it originally was, but will require spacewalkers to complete a delicate electronics repair job in zero gravity while wearing bulky spacesuits.
An astronaut conducts a spacewalk. An unprecedented mission this August will make the Hubble 90 times more powerful than it originally was, but will require spacewalkers to complete a delicate electronics...   (Getty Images)
Prince Philip, center, is briefed by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory Project Manager Elizabeth Citrin, second from right, and NASA's Colleen Hartman second left, in front of a mock up light shield of the Hubble Space Telescope during a tour of the NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., Tuesday,...
Prince Philip, center, is briefed by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory Project Manager Elizabeth Citrin, second from right, and NASA's Colleen Hartman second left, in front of a mock up light shield of...   (Associated Press)
An unprecedented mission this August will make the Hubble 90 times more powerful than it originally was, but will require spacewalkers to complete a delicate electronics repair job in zero gravity while wearing bulky spacesuits.
An unprecedented mission this August will make the Hubble 90 times more powerful than it originally was, but will require spacewalkers to complete a delicate electronics repair job in zero gravity while...   (Getty Images)
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NASA • astronomy • Hubble • space • astronauts • spacewalk • John Grunsfeld • neutral buoyancy laboratory

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