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Atlantis Lifts Off on Mission to Hubble

By the Associated Press

Posted May 11, 2009 1:35 PM CDT
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(AP) – The space shuttle Atlantis and seven astronauts blasted off today en route to the Hubble Space Telescope. It is NASA's final trip to Hubble and comes after a seven-month delay. Atlantis and its crew were supposed to fly to Hubble last fall, but the telescope broke down. The telescope is in need of new equipment and repairs, and the shuttle should arrive at the orbiting observatory Wednesday.

The $1 billion repair job will feature five spacewalks. The astronauts will install new cameras, batteries, and gyroscopes, and attempt to fix two broken science instruments on a mission fraught with more risk than usual. Atlantis will be flying in an unusually high orbit for a space shuttle, 350 miles up where there is more debris. Another shuttle is on a launch pad and ready to lift off on a rescue mission if Atlantis is seriously damaged during the 11-day flight.

The crew of the Atlantis.
The crew of the Atlantis.   (AP Photo)
The Hubble Space Telescope in 1997.
The Hubble Space Telescope in 1997.   (AP Photo)
Space Shuttle Atlantis on the gantry.
Space Shuttle Atlantis on the gantry.   (AP Photo)
An astrovan carries the crew of STS-125.
An astrovan carries the crew of STS-125.   (AP Photo)
Space Shuttle Atlantis lifts off from the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral today.
Space Shuttle Atlantis lifts off from the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral today.   (AP Photo)
The space shuttle Atlantis lifts off today at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. Seven astronauts are beginning a 12-day mission that includes service on the Hubble Space Telescope.
The space shuttle Atlantis lifts off today at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. Seven astronauts are beginning a 12-day mission that includes service on the Hubble Space Telescope.   (AP Photo)
The space shuttle Atlantis lifts off today at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. Seven astronauts are beginning a 12-day mission that includes service on the Hubble Space Telescope.
The space shuttle Atlantis lifts off today at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. Seven astronauts are beginning a 12-day mission that includes service on the Hubble Space Telescope.   (AP Photo)
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COMMENTS
Showing 2 of 2 comments
Robert_Dada
May 11, 2009 10:46 AM CDT
You can't just focus on the cost side of the equation. We've gained a lot of useful knowledge and developed many useful technologies from this program. The return on investment has been huge.
sailor86
May 11, 2009 8:24 AM CDT
Is it or isn't it obsolete? I read over a year ago that the Hubble is over-the-hill and we need something bigger and better. Perhaps the refits will stretch out its usability. I imagine it is a little sad to let such an awesome piece of equipment out to pasture.

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NASA • astronauts • repair • Atlantis Space Shuttle • outer space • Hubble Space Telescope • rescue mission • Jay-ZTV • space shuttle launch

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