Hubble Repair Team Completes Repairs

Space.com | May 18, 2009 | from Space.com

[BlueStateBlues]

The Space Shuttle Atlantis crew has completed its equipment replacements and repairs of the Hubble Space Telescope. Tomorrow they will release the Hubble back into open space.

[BlueStateBlues]

Now we have essentially a "new" Space Telescope. Wonderful news for us science and space geeks.

[null and void]

YESSSS!!!!!

[BlueStateBlues]

Today they put in a new battery pack, changed-out a gyroscope, and put in three panels of outside insulation.

[Abathar]

It was a risk, but it will pay off big rewards for a long time now.

Godspeed home Atlantis, well done.

[Islander7]

You may watch LIVE on NASA TV

[BlueStateBlues]

One more note. With this seemingly successful mission, and the “newness” of the telescope, combined with the launch last week of the Herschel and Planck Space Observatories, their will now be three major new space telescopes and other instruments in operation soon. It’s as if a new day has dawned in our knowledge of the universe, and now to await the results.

[a fool in paradise]

Yeah but did they upgrade to new digital television?

[colorado tanker]

This is great news. It's obvious a terrific team contributed to this given the flawless performance of difficult tasks by the astronauts.

I read in the paper this morning something not very comprehensible about breaking a bolt yesterday. What was that about?

[BlueStateBlues]

The bolt was so stuck that they couldn’t budge it with the instruments, after a great deal of time trying. So Mission Control said to just put all your weight on the thing and pull. He did, it worked, and the repair went on from there.

[americanophile]

Cross your fingers, and hope it performs well! Well done Atlantis crew!

[La Enchiladita]

Yeah, but what if a meteor hits it, huh?:)

Thanks for the news. Good work, crew!! When is Atlantis scheduled to return?

[Abathar]

"It’s as if a new day has dawned in our knowledge of the universe, and now to await the results."

It will be fun watching a few posters come up with ways to make everything they find impossible when the earths age is only measured in thousands of years.

I really get a kick out of some of their explanations they trot out as fact.

[Redleg Duke]

Just wait until Obama terminates the program to redirect the money to more important applications...like ACORN.

[Secret Agent Man]

Well, since we won’t be able to go up there for awhile, that’s our eyes and ears for a long time to come.

[scan59]

So Mission Control said to just put all your weight on the thing and pull.

I'm envisioning the bolt coming loose and the astronaut flying back in the opposite direction. Whoa Nelly!

[BlueStateBlues]

I’m not sure if it was a bolt that comes out or if it was more of a handle that wouldn’t open. But the push back would have been something to see.

[Evil Slayer]

Just heard about one of our astronauts brushed against a low gain antenna and broke it while finishing up on the repairs? Anyone know about that and how it might get fixed? I hope and pray it doesn't effect the Hubble.

[BlueStateBlues]

No, first I’ve heard. Hope this didn’t happen, or won’t be serious.

[Truth29]

NASA is reporting that the end cap was knocked off and copper is exposed. One of the astronauts is going back to reinstall the thermal cover. I am not sure if this is a complete fix or the significance of the copper being exposed to space.

[colorado tanker]

Thanks. The story I read made it sound like the bolt broke off, but it just broke loose, became unstuck.