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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2009
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Astronauts Take Final Hubble Spacewalk

The final mission to repair the telescope will finish Tuesday

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(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.
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.
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.
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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3 comments
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Timinator2K
May 18, 09 11:36 AM CDT
WAAAY TO GO GUYS! Reply
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lo9an
May 18, 09 12:04 PM CDT
SWWEEEEEEETTTT!!! And the earth is how old? One day religion will fail to be as prominent... hopefully soon! Reply
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Timinator2K
May 20, 09 3:14 PM CDT
"One day religion will fail to be as prominent... hopefully soon! " Wheeee! Isn't that special! What the freak is in that for you? God repressing you from realizing your true inner evil self? One day satanic liberalism and fiscal idiocy will fail to be as prominent...hopefully sooner! Reply
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