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Astronauts Take Final Hubble Spacewalk

The final mission to repair the telescope will finish Tuesday

By the Associated Press

Posted May 18, 2009 9:26 AM CDT

(AP) – Spacewalking astronauts ventured out today to finish repairs on the Hubble Space Telescope, never to be touched by human hands again. It was the fifth and final spacewalk for the crew of the shuttle Atlantis, and the final planned visit by astronauts, ever, to Hubble. The astronauts outfitted Hubble with two state-of-the-art science instruments totaling $220 million that should allow the telescope to peer as far back as 13 billion years.

Keen on leaving the 19-year-old observatory in the best possible shape, the two astronauts were tasked with giving the telescope another fresh set of batteries, a new sensor for fine pointing, and steel foil sheets to protect against radiation and extreme temperature changes. The team also managed to fix two science instruments that had broken down years ago.

In this photo provided by NASA, astronaut John Grunsfeld, STS-125 mission specialist, attaches a tether during a spacewalk to perform work on the Hubble Space Telescope on Saturday. (NASA)

In this photo provided by NASA, astronaut Andrew Feustel, left, STS-125 mission specialist, navigates near the Hubble Space Telescope on the end of the remote manipulator system arm. (NASA)

In this image from NASA TV, the Hubble Space Telescope is seen in the payload bay of Shuttle Atlantis as astronauts John Grunsfeld, left, and Drew Feustel work to upgrade it during a spacewalk. (NASA TV)

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Astronauts Take Final Hubble Spacewalk

The final mission to repair the telescope will finish Tuesday

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Astronauts Take Final Hubble Spacewalk

The final mission to repair the telescope will finish Tuesday

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

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

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NASA Puts Sale of Apollo 13 Checklist on Hold

Astronaut Lovell sold it for $388K, but he may not own it

World's Biggest Plane to Rocket People into Space

Paul Allen project might be ready for tests in 2016

NASA Puts Out Call for Astronauts

Though it'll be a looong time before you get into space

NASA's New Worry: Astronauts Going Blind

It could happen on a trip to Mars

NASA Clip Shows 9/11 From Space

Smoke rises from New York in ISS video

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