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Astronauts Release Hubble on Final Run

Telescope to go where no one has gone before, never return

By the Associated Press

Posted May 19, 2009 10:19 AM CDT

(AP) – Atlantis' astronauts gingerly dropped the Hubble Space Telescope overboard today, sending the restored observatory off on a new voyage of discovery and bidding it farewell on behalf of the planet, reports the AP. The shuttle and telescope had just crossed the Atlantic, and were soaring 350 miles above the coast of northwestern Africa, when astronaut Megan McArthur used a robot arm to release the snares gripping Hubble. Then the shuttle slowly backed away.

"Hubble has been released," reported the mission commander. "It's safely back on its journey of exploration as we begin steps to conclude ours." Hubble, considered better than new following five days of repairs and upgrades, will never be seen up close by humans again. During five days of spacewalks, Atlantis' crew labored tirelessly on the 19-year-old observatory, attaching new instruments and fixing old ones. Their work should give Hubble another five to 10 years.

[Images (3)]

[Quotes (1)]

Astronauts John Grunsfeld, left, and Andrew Feustel participate in the mission's fifth and final spacewalk to refurbish and upgrade the Hubble Space Telescope on Monday May 18, 2009. ((AP Photo/NASA))

Astronaut John Grunsfeld, STS-125 mission specialist, positioned on a foot restraint on the end of Atlantis' remote manipulator system (RMS), on Monday May 18, 2009. ((AP Photo/NASA))

In this image from NASA TV, the Hubble Space Telescope, top, is lifted by the Shuttle Atlantis' robotic arm out of the shuttle's cargo bay Tuesday, May 19, 2009, in preparation for its release. ((AP Photo/NASA TV))

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Hubble is now ready to resume its role as humankind's most powerful eyes on the universe. - NASA, in message to crew

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 6 comments

NxBigmouthery

May 19, 2009 11:04 AM CDT

Yes, that's how it works...if NASA were closed down, all the starving children would be fed. There's not enough money otherwise. We still need the instruments of war tho'.

psycada

May 19, 2009 7:38 AM CDT

Not sure which part you find "nasty", unless speaking truthfully is nasty. Repeatedly calling for and end to NASA is not intelligent, and this is not the first time...today... TC has advocated it. Nor is it intelligent to keep our troops and bases in countries where we are not needed or wanted, which costs FAR more tax dollars than is necessary. So yes, if he TC would like to end starvation, then advocating the end of unnecessary military ventures and redistributing the massive amount of tax dollars towards starvation would probably have a much greater social impact in multiple ways. Ending NASA to direct it's funds towards starvation would be a social net gain near zero. My apologies if the colorful term of "dumbassery" wasn't nice enough for you. I could have made some dumb, "its the liberal's, it's the conservative's" statement that so many readers on newser seem to prefer. Do us all a favor, comment on the points, not the deliveries. not everyone in America articulates identically, and thankfully, we don't have to.

kokuaguy

May 19, 2009 6:54 AM CDT

psycada, I gave you a thumbs down for being nasty. not for your argument.

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Astronauts Release Hubble on Final Run