Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2009
| Subscribe to Newser's RSS feeds RSS | Follow Newser on Twitter Twitter


1

Stuck Bolt Throws Wrench in Hubble Repairs

Spacewalk becomes sixth longest in history

Share

(Newser) – Yesterday was a frustratingly long day in space as Atlantis astronauts struggled to fix a long-broken spectrograph on the Hubble Space Telescope. They ultimately succeeded, but a stuck bolt and dead battery prolonged the spacewalk to 8 hours—making it the sixth longest in history, Space.com reports. Astronauts also ran out of time to insulate Hubble, but may attempt to do so on today's fifth and final spacewalk.

Astronaut Michael Massimino ripped his spacesuit glove during yesterday's fixes, but was not in any danger. The spectrograph—which doubles as a camera, detects black holes, and discerns the chemical makeup of the atmosphere—was never designed to be repaired in orbit. The fixed machine failed after initial tests, but mission engineers plan to test it again after it warms up.

Astronauts work to upgrade the Hubble Space Telescope during yesterday's spacewalk.
Astronauts work to upgrade the Hubble Space Telescope during yesterday's spacewalk.   (AP Photo/NASA TV)
Astronaut Mike Massimino works to remove a bolt keeping hold of a hand rail attached to a scientific instrument on the Hubble Space Telescope.
Astronaut Mike Massimino works to remove a bolt keeping hold of a hand rail attached to a scientific instrument on the Hubble Space Telescope.   (AP Photo/NASA TV)
Astronauts work to upgrade the Hubble Space Telescope during yesterday's spacewalk.
Astronauts work to upgrade the Hubble Space Telescope during yesterday's spacewalk.   (AP Photo/NASA TV)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

Oh, for Pete's sake!
- Astronaut Michael Massimino,
after a power tool's battery died,
delaying the spacewalk

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
OFF THE GRID
11.6.09
Galleon Scandal: Shocked, Shocked by Insider Trading
11.5.09
Rupert Murdoch Is Mad but Cute
1 comment
VIEWING:
 
jeangnome
May 18, 09 8:19 AM CDT
Did they forget to bring the WD-40? Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
0
LEAVE A
COMMENT Comment Policy
Facebook ConnectPost this comment to Facebook?

After connecting you will have the option to post your comment on your Facebook profile.

 

Related Newser Stories

120 Stories

Slideshow

 New Hubble Images Dazzle 

Refurbished telescope can see further, with more color

Sep 9, 09 1:46 PM CDT
(Newser) - NASA released the first shots from the recently upgraded Hubble Space Telescope today, and the results are spectacular. Thanks to the new imagers installed in May, Hubble can now see farther, with greater clarity and a wider color spectrum, reports NPR. Officially, NASA calls it a new beginning for the... More »

MORE ABOUT:
NASA • Hubble • deep space • galaxy • outer space • Hubble Space Telescope

 Approaching Debris 
 Doesn't Stop Spacewalk 

Space junk may come within 2 miles of station, shuttle

Sep 3, 09 6:25 PM CDT
(AP) - Two astronauts stepped out on a spacewalk to install a new tank of space-station coolant today as a large piece of orbiting junk headed their way. The old rocket part was expected to pass early tomorrow within 2 miles of the shuttle-station complex, considered a safe distance by NASA specialists.... More »

MORE ABOUT:
NASA • International Space Station • spacewalk • Discovery • space junk • Danny Olivas • Christer Fuglesang

(Newser) - Astronauts walking outside the International Space Station lost communications with NASA ground control for 33 minutes today, Reuters reports, after a storm cut the link through a relay station on the Pacific island of Guam. “This is no safety of flight issue,” said a spokesman, who added that... More »

MORE ABOUT:
NASA • storm • astronauts • International Space Station • spacewalk • Guam • communications

OPINION

 Send Astronauts to Mars 
 —and Leave Them There 

Why a one-way ticket is the best way to the red planet

Sep 1, 09 11:43 AM CDT
(Newser) - The most feasible way to get humans on Mars is to offer retirement-age astronauts one-way tickets to live out their last days on the red planet. Say what? It's not as crazy as it sounds, writes scientist Lawrence Krauss in the New York Times, who believes his plan would solve... More »

MORE ABOUT:
NASA • space exploration • Mars • astronauts • red planet

(Newser) - With all the hoopla of the Apollo anniversary safely behind us, a White House panel is ready to deliver a sobering assessment of the nation's current moon plans: They're too expensive. The panel, set up by President Obama to review NASA's human space flight program, says the agency's budget is... More »

MORE ABOUT:
NASA • space exploration • astronauts • moon • rockets • outer space

120 Stories


Space crew yanked bolt out of place
ComputerWorld

No time to tweet in space
Associated Press


Science & Health  •  Technology 
TwitterFollow @NewserScience on Twitter

 
NASA • astronauts • spacewalk • Atlantis Space Shuttle • Hubble Space Telescope

from our news partners