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Space Shuttle Orbiter and Columbia and Hubble Space Telescope (HST)
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STS-31 Launch
| Title |
STS-31 Launch |
| Full Description |
The Space Shuttle Columbia on Pad 39A during the picture-perfect ascent of sister ship Discovery after lift off of STS-31. This was the first time since January 1986 that there was a Shuttle on each pad, which are separated by 1.6 miles. Discovery, carrying a five-member crew and the Hubble Space Telescope, lifted off at 8:34 a.m. EDT, April 24. Columbia, with its Astro-1 observatory, is scheduled for launch in May. |
| Date |
4/24/1990 |
| NASA Center |
Kennedy Space Center |
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Hubble Restored: The Telesco
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| Title |
Hubble Restored: The Telescope's Latest Look |
| Description |
The revamped Hubble Space Telescope, fresh from its fourth visit by astronauts, sports new solar arrays on its outside, and new instruments inside. The new solar arrays, which collect sunlight to power the telescope, are smaller than the previous ones, but more powerful. This image was taken shortly after Hubble separated from the Columbia space shuttle in March 2002, making it the most up-to-date picture of the Hubble Space Telescope. |
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Hubble Floating Free
| Title |
Hubble Floating Free |
| Description |
The Hubble Space Telescope floats against the background of Earth after a week of repair and upgrade by Space Shuttle Columbia astronauts in 2002. Hubble?s fourth servicing mission gave the telescope its first new instrument installed since the 1997 repair mission ? the Advanced Camera for Surveys. It doubled Hubble?s field of view and records information much faster than Hubble?s Wide Field and Planetary Camera 2. |
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STS-109 Crew Portrait
| Name of Image |
STS-109 Crew Portrait |
| Date of Image |
2001-11-08 |
| Full Description |
Posing for the traditional preflight crew portrait, the seven astronauts of the STS-109 mission are (left to right) astronauts Michael J. Massimino, Richard M. Linnehan, Duane G. Carey, Scott D. Altman, Nancy J. Currie, John M. Grunsfeld and James H. Newman. Altman and Carey were commander and pilot, respectively, with the others serving as mission specialists. Grunsfeld was payload commander. Launched aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia on March 1, 2002, the group was the fourth visit to the the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) for performing upgrade and servicing on the giant orbital observatory. |
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STS-109 Shuttle Mission
| Name of Image |
STS-109 Shuttle Mission |
| Date of Image |
2001-08-01 |
| Full Description |
This is the insignia of the STS-109 Space Shuttle mission. Carrying a crew of seven, the Space Shuttle Orbiter Columbia was launched with goals of maintenance and upgrades to the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). The Marshall Space Flight Center had the responsibility for the design, development, and construction of the HST, which is the most complex and sensitive optical telescope ever made, to study the cosmos from a low-Earth orbit. The HST detects objects 25 times fainter than the dimmest objects seen from Earth and provides astronomers with an observable universe 250 times larger than is visible from ground-based telescopes, perhaps as far away as 14 billion light-years. The HST views galaxies, stars, planets, comets, possibly other solar systems, and even unusual phenomena such as quasars, with 10 times the clarity of ground-based telescopes. During the STS-109 mission, the telescope was captured and secured on a work stand in Columbia's payload bay using Columbia's robotic arm where four members of the crew performed five spacewalks completing system upgrades to the HST. Included in those upgrades were: The replacement of the solar array panels, replacement of the power control unit (PCU), replacement of the Faint Object Camera (FOC) with a new advanced camera for Surveys (ACS), and installation of the experimental cooling system for the Hubble's Near-Infrared Camera and Multi-object Spectrometer (NICMOS), which had been dormant since January 1999 when it original coolant ran out. Lasting 10 days, 22 hours, and 11 minutes, the STS-109 mission was the 27th flight of the Orbiter Columbia and the 108th flight overall in NASA's Space Shuttle Program. |
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STS-109 Extra Vehicular Acti
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| Name of Image |
STS-109 Extra Vehicular Activity (EVA) |
| Date of Image |
2002-03-05 |
| Full Description |
Astronaut James H. Newman, mission specialist, floats about in the Space Shuttle Columbia's cargo bay while working in tandem with astronaut Michael J. Massimino (out of frame),mission specialist, during the STS-109 mission's second day of extravehicular activity (EVA). Inside Columbia's cabin, astronaut Nancy J. Currie, mission specialist, controlled the Remote Manipulator System (RMS) to assist the two in their work on the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). The RMS was used to capture the telescope and secure it into Columbia's cargo bay.Part of the giant telescope's base, latched down in the payload bay, can be seen behind Newman. The Space Shuttle Columbia STS-109 mission lifted off March 1, 2002 with goals of repairing and upgrading the HST. The Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama had responsibility for the design, development, and contruction of the HST, which is the most powerful and sophisticated telescope ever built. STS-109 upgrades to the HST included: replacement of the solar array panels, replacement of the power control unit (PCU), replacement of the Faint Object Camera (FOC) with a new advanced camera for Surveys (ACS), and installation of the experimental cooling system for the Hubble's Near-Infrared Camera and Multi-object Spectrometer (NICMOS), which had been dormant since January 1999 when its original coolant ran out. Lasting 10 days, 22 hours, and 11 minutes, the STS-109 mission was the 108th flight overall in NASA's Space Shuttle Program. |
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STS-109 Onboard Photo of Ext
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| Name of Image |
STS-109 Onboard Photo of Extra-Vehicular Activity (EVA) |
| Date of Image |
2002-03-06 |
| Full Description |
This is an onboard photo of Astronaut John M. Grunsfield, STS-109 payload commander, participating in the third of five spacewalks to perform work on the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). On this particular walk, Grunsfield, joined by Astronaut Richard M. Lirnehan, turned off the telescope in order to replace its power control unit (PCU), the heart of the HST's power system. The telescope was captured and secured on a work stand in Columbia's payload bay using Columbia's robotic arm, where crew members completed system upgrades to the HST. Included in those upgrades were: replacement of the solar array panels, replacement of the power control unit (PCU), replacement of the Faint Object Camera (FOC) with a new advanced camera for Surveys (ACS), and installation of the experimental cooling system for the Hubble's Near-Infrared Camera and Multi-object Spectrometer (NICMOS), which had been dormant since January 1999 when its original coolant ran out. The Marshall Space Flight Center had the responsibility for the design, development, and construction of the HST, which is the most complex and sensitive optical telescope ever made, to study the cosmos from a low-Earth orbit. The HST detects objects 25 times fainter than the dimmest objects seen from Earth and provides astronomers with an observable universe 250 times larger than is visible from ground-based telescopes, perhaps as far away as 14 billion light-years. The HST views galaxies, stars, planets, comets, possibly other solar systems, and even unusual phenomena such as quasars, with 10 times the clarity of ground-based telescopes. Launched March 1, 2002 the STS-109 HST servicing mission lasted 10 days, 22 hours, and 11 minutes. It was the 108th flight overall in NASA's Space Shuttle Program. |
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STS-109 Extra Vehicular Acti
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| Name of Image |
STS-109 Extra Vehicular Activity (EVA) |
| Date of Image |
2002-03-07 |
| Full Description |
Inside the Space Shuttle Columbia's cabin, astronaut Nancy J. Currie, mission specialist, controlled the Remote Manipulator System (RMS) on the crew cabin's aft flight deck to assist fellow astronauts during the STS-109 mission Extra Vehicular Activities (EVA). The RMS was used to capture the telescope and secure it into Columbia's cargo bay. The Space Shuttle Columbia STS-109 mission lifted off March 1, 2002 with goals of repairing and upgrading the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). The Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama had the responsibility for the design, development, and construction of the HST, which is the most powerful and sophisticated telescope ever built. STS-109 upgrades to the HST included: replacement of the solar array panels, replacement of the power control unit (PCU), replacement of the Faint Object Camera (FOC) with a new advanced camera for Surveys (ACS), and installation of the experimental cooling system for the Hubble's Near-Infrared Camera and Multi-object Spectrometer (NICMOS), which had been dormant since January 1999 when its original coolant ran out. Lasting 10 days, 22 hours, and 11 minutes, the STS-109 mission was the 108th flight overall in NASA's Space Shuttle Program. |
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STS-109 Onboard Photo of Ext
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| Name of Image |
STS-109 Onboard Photo of Extra-Vehicular Activity (EVA) |
| Date of Image |
2002-03-01 |
| Full Description |
This is an onboard photo of the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) power control unit (PCU), the heart of the HST's power system. STS-109 payload commander John M. Grunsfeld, joined by Astronaut Richard M. Lirnehan, turned off the telescope in order to replace its PCU while participating in the third of five spacewalks dedicated to servicing and upgrading the HST. Other upgrades performed were: replacement of the solar array panels, replacement of the Faint Object Camera (FOC) with a new advanced camera for Surveys (ACS), and installation of the experimental cooling system for the Hubble's Near-Infrared Camera and Multi-Object Spectrometer (NICMOS), which had been dormant since January 1999 when its original coolant ran out. The telescope was captured and secured on a work stand in Columbia's payload bay using Columbia's robotic arm, where crew members completed the system upgrades. The Marshall Space Flight Center had the responsibility for the design, development, and construction of the HST, which is the most complex and sensitive optical telescope ever made, to study the cosmos from a low-Earth orbit. The HST detects objects 25 times fainter than the dimmest objects seen from Earth and provides astronomers with an observable universe 250 times larger than is visible from ground-based telescopes, perhaps as far away as 14 billion light-years. Launched March 1, 2002 the STS-109 HST servicing mission lasted 10 days, 22 hours, and 11 minutes. It was the 108th flight overall in NASA's Space Shuttle Program. |
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Astronauts Prepare for Missi
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| Name of Image |
Astronauts Prepare for Mission With Virtual Reality Hardware |
| Date of Image |
2001-08-08 |
| Full Description |
Astronauts John M. Grunsfeld (left), STS-109 payload commander, and Nancy J. Currie, mission specialist, use the virtual reality lab at Johnson Space Center to train for upcoming duties aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia. This type of computer interface paired with virtual reality training hardware and software helps to prepare the entire team to perform its duties for the fourth Hubble Space Telescope Servicing mission. The most familiar form of virtual reality technology is some form of headpiece, which fits over your eyes and displays a three dimensional computerized image of another place. Turn your head left and right, and you see what would be to your sides, turn around, and you see what might be sneaking up on you. An important part of the technology is some type of data glove that you use to propel yourself through the virtual world. Currently, the medical community is using the new technologies in four major ways: To see parts of the body more accurately, for study, to make better diagnosis of disease and to plan surgery in more detail, to obtain a more accurate picture of a procedure during surgery, to perform more types of surgery with the most noninvasive, accurate methods possible, and to model interactions among molecules at a molecular level. |
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STS-109 Astronaut Michael J.
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| Name of Image |
STS-109 Astronaut Michael J. Massimino Peers Into Window of Shuttle During EVA |
| Date of Image |
2002-03-05 |
| Full Description |
STS-109 Astronauts Michael J. Massimino and James H. Newman were making their second extravehicular activity (EVA) of their mission when astronaut Massimino, mission specialist, peered into Columbia's crew cabin during a brief break from work on the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). The HST is latched down just a few feet behind him in Columbia's cargo bay. The Space Shuttle Columbia STS-109 mission lifted off March 1, 2002 with goals of repairing and upgrading the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). STS-109 upgrades to the HST included: replacement of the solar array panels, replacement of the power control unit (PCU), replacement of the Faint Object Camera (FOC) with a new advanced camera for Surveys (ACS), and installation of the experimental cooling system for the Hubble's Near-Infrared Camera and Multi-object Spectrometer (NICMOS), which had been dormant since January 1999 when its original coolant ran out. The Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama had the responsibility for the design, development, and construction of the HST, which is the most powerful and sophisticated telescope ever built. Lasting 10 days, 22 hours, and 11 minutes, the STS-109 mission was the 108th flight overall in NASA's Space Shuttle Program. |
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Hubble Space Telescope Close
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| Name of Image |
Hubble Space Telescope Close to Capture |
| Date of Image |
2002-03-03 |
| Full Description |
The Hubble Space Telescope (HST), with its normal routine temporarily interrupted, is about to be captured by the Space Shuttle Columbia prior to a week of servicing and upgrading by the STS-109 crew. The telescope was captured by the shuttle's Remote Manipulator System (RMS) robotic arm and secured on a work stand in Columbia's payload bay where 4 of the 7-member crew performed 5 space walks completing system upgrades to the HST. Included in those upgrades were: The replacement of the solar array panels, replacement of the power control unit (PCU), replacement of the Faint Object Camera (FOC) with a new advanced camera for Surveys (ACS), and installation of the experimental cooling system for the Hubble's Near-Infrared Camera and Multi-object Spectrometer (NICMOS), which had been dormant since January 1999 when its original coolant ran out. The Marshall Space Flight Center had the responsibility for the design, development, and construction of the the HST, which is the most complex and sensitive optical telescope ever made, to study the cosmos from a low-Earth orbit. Launched March 1, 2002, the STS-109 HST servicing mission lasted 10 days, 22 hours, and 11 minutes. It was the 108th flight overall in NASA's Space Shuttle Program. |
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Repaired and Reconfigured Hu
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| Name of Image |
Repaired and Reconfigured Hubble Space Telescope Berthed in Columbia's Cargo Bay |
| Date of Image |
2002-03-08 |
| Full Description |
After five days of service and upgrade work on the Hubble Space Telescope (HST), the STS-109 crew photographed the giant telescope in the shuttle's cargo bay. The telescope was captured and secured on a work stand in Columbia's payload bay using Columbia's robotic arm, where 4 of the 7-member crew performed 5 space walks completing system upgrades to the HST. Included in those upgrades were: The replacement of the solar array panels, replacement of the power control unit (PCU), replacement of the Faint Object Camera (FOC) with a new advanced camera for Surveys (ACS), and installation of the experimental cooling system for the Hubble's Near-Infrared Camera and Multi-object Spectrometer (NICMOS), which had been dormant since January 1999 when its original coolant ran out. The Marshall Space Flight Center had the responsibility for the design, development, and construction of the the HST, which is the most complex and sensitive optical telescope ever made, to study the cosmos from a low-Earth orbit. Launched March 1, 2002, the STS-109 HST servicing mission lasted 10 days, 22 hours, and 11 minutes. It was the 108th flight overall in NASA's Space Shuttle Program. |
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STS-109 Astronaut Michael J.
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| Name of Image |
STS-109 Astronaut Michael J. Massimino Carries the Electronic Support Module (ESM) |
| Date of Image |
2002-03-07 |
| Full Description |
STS-109 Astronaut Michael J. Massimino, mission specialist, perched on the Shuttle's robotic arm, is preparing to install the Electronic Support Module (ESM) in the aft shroud of the Hubble Space telescope (HST), with the assistance of astronaut James H. Newman (out of frame). The module will support a new experimental cooling system to be installed during the next day's fifth and final space walk of the mission. That cooling system is designed to bring the telescope's Near-Infrared Camera and Multi Spectrometer (NICMOS) back to life the which had been dormant since January 1999 when its original coolant ran out. The Space Shuttle Columbia STS-109 mission lifted off March 1, 2002 with goals of repairing and upgrading the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). The Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama had the responsibility for the design, development, and construction of the HST, which is the most powerful and sophisticated telescope ever built. In addition to the installation of the experimental cooling system for the Hubble's Near-Infrared Camera and NICMOS, STS-109 upgrades to the HST included replacement of the solar array panels, replacement of the power control unit (PCU), and replacement of the Faint Object Camera (FOC) with a new advanced camera for Surveys (ACS). Lasting 10 days, 22 hours, and 11 minutes, the STS-109 mission was the 108th flight overall in NASA's Space Shuttle Program. |
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STS-109 Shuttle Mission Laun
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| Name of Image |
STS-109 Shuttle Mission Launch |
| Date of Image |
2002-03-01 |
| Full Description |
Carrying the STS-109 crew of seven, the Space Shuttle Orbiter Columbia blasted from its launch pad as it began its 27th flight and 108th flight overall in NASA's Space Shuttle Program. Launched March 1, 2002, the goal of the mission was the maintenance and upgrade of the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) which was developed, designed, and constructed by the Marshall Space Flight Center. Captured and secured on a work stand in Columbia's payload bay using Columbia's robotic arm, the HST received the following upgrades: replacement of the solar array panels, replacement of the power control unit (PCU), replacement of the Faint Object Camera (FOC) with a new advanced camera for Surveys (ACS), and installation of the experimental cooling system for the Hubble's Near-Infrared Camera and Multi-object Spectrometer (NICMOS), which had been dormant since January 1999 when it original coolant ran out. Four of the crewmembers performed 5 space walks in the 10 days, 22 hours, and 11 minutes of the the STS-109 mission. |
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STS-109 Astronaut Michael J.
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| Name of Image |
STS-109 Astronaut Michael J. Massimino Works in Cargo Bay Stowage Area |
| Date of Image |
2002-03-07 |
| Full Description |
STS-109 Astronaut Michael J. Massimino, mission specialist, perched on the Shuttle's robotic arm is working at the stowage area for the Hubble Space Telescope's port side solar array. Working in tandem with James. H. Newman, Massimino removed the old port solar array and stored it in Columbia's payload bay for return to Earth. The two went on to install a third generation solar array and its associated electrical components. Two crew mates had accomplished the same feat with the starboard array on the previous day. In addition to the replacement of the solar arrays, the STS-109 crew also installed the experimental cooling system for the Hubble's Near-Infrared Camera (NICMOS), replaced the power control unit (PCU), and replaced the Faint Object Camera (FOC) with a new advanced camera for Surveys (ACS). The 108th flight overall in NASA's Space Shuttle Program, the Space Shuttle Columbia STS-109 mission lifted off March 1, 2002 for 10 days, 22 hours, and 11 minutes. Five space walks were conducted to complete the HST upgrades. The Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama had the responsibility for the design, development, and construction of the HST, which is the most powerful and sophisticated telescope ever built. |
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Repaired and Reconfigured Hu
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| Name of Image |
Repaired and Reconfigured Hubble Space Telescope Berthed in Columbia's Cargo Bay |
| Date of Image |
2002-03-08 |
| Full Description |
After five days of service and upgrade work on the Hubble Space Telescope (HST), the STS-109 crew photographed the giant telescope in the shuttle's cargo bay. The telescope was captured and secured on a work stand in Columbia's payload bay using Columbia's robotic arm, where 4 of the 7-member crew performed 5 space walks completing system upgrades to the HST. Included in those upgrades were: The replacement of the solar array panels, replacement of the power control unit (PCU), replacement of the Faint Object Camera (FOC) with a new advanced camera for Surveys (ACS), and installation of the experimental cooling system for the Hubble's Near-Infrared Camera and Multi-object Spectrometer (NICMOS), which had been dormant since January 1999 when its original coolant ran out. The Marshall Space Flight Center had the responsibility for the design, development, and construction of the the HST, which is the most complex and sensitive optical telescope ever made, to study the cosmos from a low-Earth orbit. Launched March 1, 2002, the STS-109 HST servicing mission lasted 10 days, 22 hours, and 11 minutes. It was the 108th flight overall in NASA's Space Shuttle Program. |
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STS-109 Shuttle Mission Onbo
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| Name of Image |
STS-109 Shuttle Mission Onboard Crew Portrait |
| Date of Image |
2002-03-11 |
| Full Description |
On the Space Shuttle Columbia's mid deck, the STS-109 crew of seven pose for the traditional in-flight portrait. From the left (front row), are astronauts Nancy J. Currie, mission specialist, Scott D. Altman, mission commander, and Duane G. Carey, pilot. Pictured on the back row from left to right are astronauts John M. Grunsfield, payload commander, and Richard M. Lirneham, James H. Newman, and Michael J. Massimino, all mission specialists. The 108th flight overall in NASA's Space Shuttle Program, the STS-109 mission launched March 1, 2002, and lasted 10 days, 22 hours, and 11 minutes. The goal of the mission was the maintenance and upgrade of the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). Using Columbia's robotic arm, the telescope was captured and secured on a work stand in Columbia's payload bay where four members of the crew performed five space walks to complete system upgrades to the HST. The Marshall Space Flight Center had the responsibility for the design, development, and construction of the HST, which is the most complex and sensitive optical telescope ever made, to study the cosmos from a low-Earth orbit. |
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Repaired and Reconfigured Hu
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| Name of Image |
Repaired and Reconfigured Hubble Space Telescope Returns to Routine |
| Date of Image |
2002-03-09 |
| Full Description |
After five days of service and upgrade work on the Hubble Space Telescope (HST), the STS-109 crew photographed the giant telescope returning to its normal routine. The telescope was captured and secured on a work stand in Columbia's payload bay using Columbia's robotic arm, where 4 of the 7-member crew performed 5 space walks completing system upgrades to the HST. Included in those upgrades were: The replacement of the solar array panels, replacement of the power control unit (PCU), replacement of the Faint Object Camera (FOC) with a new advanced camera for Surveys (ACS), and installation of the experimental cooling system for the Hubble's Near-Infrared Camera and Multi-object Spectrometer (NICMOS), which had been dormant since January 1999 when its original coolant ran out. The Marshall Space Flight Center had the responsibility for the design, development, and construction of the the HST, which is the most complex and sensitive optical telescope ever made, to study the cosmos from a low-Earth orbit. Launched March 1, 2002, the STS-109 HST servicing mission lasted 10 days, 22 hours, and 11 minutes. It was the 108th flight overall in NASA's Space Shuttle Program. |
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STS-109 Shuttle Mission
| Name of Image |
STS-109 Shuttle Mission |
| Date of Image |
2002-03-01 |
| Full Description |
Carrying a crew of seven, the Space Shuttle Orbiter Columbia soared through some pre-dawn clouds into the sky as it began its 27th flight, STS-109. Launched March 1, 2002, the goal of the mission was the maintenance and upgrade of the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). The Marshall Space Flight Center had the responsibility for the design, development, and construction of the HST, which is the most complex and sensitive optical telescope ever made, to study the cosmos from a low-Earth orbit. The HST detects objects 25 times fainter than the dimmest objects seen from Earth and provides astronomers with an observable universe 250 times larger than is visible from ground-based telescopes, perhaps as far away as 14 billion light-years. The HST views galaxies, stars, planets, comets, possibly other solar systems, and even unusual phenomena such as quasars, with 10 times the clarity of ground-based telescopes. During the STS-109 mission, the telescope was captured and secured on a work stand in Columbia's payload bay using Columbia's robotic arm. Here four members of the crew performed five spacewalks completing system upgrades to the HST. Included in those upgrades were: replacement of the solar array panels, replacement of the power control unit (PCU), replacement of the Faint Object Camera (FOC) with a new advanced camera for Surveys (ACS), and installation of the experimental cooling system for the Hubble's Near-Infrared Camera and Multi-object Spectrometer (NICMOS), which had been dormant since January 1999 when it original coolant ran out. Lasting 10 days, 22 hours, and 11 minutes, the STS-109 mission was the 108th flight overall in NASA's Space Shuttle Program. |
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STS-109 Shuttle Mission Crew
| Name of Image |
STS-109 Shuttle Mission Crew |
| Date of Image |
2002-03-01 |
| Full Description |
The STS-109 crew of seven waved to onlookers as they emerged from the Operations and Checkout Buildings at Kennedy Space Flight Center eager to get to the launch pad to embark upon the Space Shuttle Orbiter Columbia's 27th flight into space. Crew members included, from front to back, Duane G. Carey (left) and Scott D. Altman (right), Nancy J. Currie, mission specialist, John M. Grunsfield (left), payload commander, and Richard M. Linneham (right), James H. Newman (left) and Michael J. Massimino (right), all mission specialists. Launched March 1, 2002, the goal of the mission was the maintenance and upgrade of the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). The Marshall Space Flight Center had the responsibility for the design, development, and construction of the HST, which is the most complex and sensitive optical telescope ever made, to study the cosmos from a low-Earth orbit. By using Columbia's robotic arm, the telescope was captured and secured on a work stand in Columbia's payload bay where four members of the crew performed five spacewalks to complete system upgrades to the HST. Lasting 10 days, 22 hours, and 11 minutes, the STS-109 mission was the 108th flight overall in NASA's Space Shuttle Program. |
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Hubble Space Telescope Berth
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| Name of Image |
Hubble Space Telescope Berthed in Columbia's Cargo Bay |
| Date of Image |
2002-03-03 |
| Full Description |
This is a photo of the Hubble Space Telescope (HST),in its origianl configuration, berthed in the cargo bay of the Space Shuttle Columbia during the STS-109 mission silhouetted against the airglow of the Earth's horizon. The telescope was captured and secured on a work stand in Columbia's payload bay using Columbia's robotic arm, where 4 of the 7-member crew performed 5 spacewalks completing system upgrades to the HST. Included in those upgrades were: replacement of the solar array panels, replacement of the power control unit (PCU), replacement of the Faint Object Camera (FOC) with a new advanced camera for Surveys (ACS), and installation of the experimental cooling system for the Hubble's Near-Infrared Camera and Multi-object Spectrometer (NICMOS), which had been dormant since January 1999 when its original coolant ran out. The Marshall Space Flight Center had the responsibility for the design, development, and construction of the the HST, which is the most complex and sensitive optical telescope ever made, to study the cosmos from a low-Earth orbit. The HST detects objects 25 times fainter than the dimmest objects seen from Earth and provides astronomers with an observable universe 250 times larger than is visible from ground-based telescopes, perhaps as far away as 14 billion light-years. The HST views galaxies, stars, planets, comets, possibly other solar systems, and even unusual phenomena such as quasars, with 10 times the clarity of ground-based telescopes. Launched March 1, 2002 the STS-109 HST servicing mission lasted 10 days, 22 hours, and 11 minutes. It was the 108th flight overall in NASA's Space Shuttle Program. |
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Columbia Waits, Discovery La
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| Title |
Columbia Waits, Discovery Launches |
| Explanation |
Space Shuttle Discovery launches while the Space Shuttle Columbia is readied for a future mission. Space shuttles are launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. At this date there are four operating space shuttles: Atlantis [ http://www.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/resources/orbiters/atlantis.html ], Columbia [ http://www.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/resources/orbiters/columbia.html ], Discovery [ http://www.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/resources/orbiters/discovery.html ], and Endeavour [ http://www.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/resources/orbiters/endeavour.html ]. This mission [ http://www.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/missions/sts-31/mission-sts-31.html ] is most famous for carrying the Hubble Space Telescope [ http://www.stsci.edu/public.html ] into orbit. The Hubble Space Telescope is the largest public optical telescope ever to operate in orbit, and because it is above Earth's atmosphere it's photographs are more clear than any ground based telescope. Hubble continues to make fundamental discoveries about planets [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/lib/glossary.html#planet ], stars [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/lib/glossary.html#star ], galaxies [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/lib/glossary.html#galaxy ], comets [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/lib/glossary.html#comet ], QSOs [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/lib/glossary.html#qso ], and the universe we live in. Tomorrow's picture: Challenger Launches Spacelab 2 |
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Columbia Dawn
| Title |
Columbia Dawn |
| Explanation |
Trailing [ http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/ photoDetail.cfm?PageID=9012 ] a thick column of exhaust, the Space Shuttle Columbia blasted into [ http://shuttle.msfc.nasa.gov/missionprofile.htm ] the twilight morning sky on March 1, its thundering rockets [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap011115.html ] briefly flooding a cloud bank with the light of a false dawn. The event marked the start of the ongoing [ http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/spacenews/reports/sts109/ index.html ] eleven day mission to upgrade [ http://sm3b.gsfc.nasa.gov/index.html ] the Hubble Space Telescope [ http://hubble.gsfc.nasa.gov/ ]. Hubble's upgrades include the installation of new solar arrays and a new camera [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap020306.html ]. Columbia's crew is [ http://sm3b.gsfc.nasa.gov/mission-critical/ shuttle-crew.html ] scheduled to complete the work today in the last of five space walks [ http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/shuttle/sts-109/ flightday04/ndxpage1.html ]. Columbia's launch also marks the first flight [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap010412.html ] of the oldest operating space shuttle after receiving extensive upgrades [ http://www.nasa.gov/releases/2002/02-029.html ] itself, designed to increase its capabilities for missions to low Earth orbit. The shuttle landing is expected at Kennedy Space Center on March 12. |
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SM3B: Mission to Hubble
| Title |
SM3B: Mission to Hubble |
| Explanation |
Now complete, Servicing Mission 3B [ http://sm3b.gsfc.nasa.gov/ ] (SM3B) was really the fourth trip to the Hubble Space Telescope [ http://hubble.stsci.edu/sci.d.tech/nuts_.and._bolts/ ], as the originally planned mission 3 was split [ http://sm3b.gsfc.nasa.gov/faq.html ] into two parts. Falling around [ http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/basics/bsf3-2.html ] planet Earth, about 320 nautical [ http://www.gwydir.demon.co.uk/jo/units/sea.htm ] miles above the surface, the 13.2 meter long Great Observatory [ http://spacelink.msfc.nasa.gov/Instructional.Materials/ Curriculum.Support/Technology/Models/ NASA's.Great.Observatories.Kit/.index.html ] is pictured [ http://sm3b.gsfc.nasa.gov/gallery/images/ mission10.html ] here in Space Shuttle Columbia's payload bay on March 5. Spacesuited [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap981217.html ] astronaut Michael Massimino works under Hubble's "hood" while poised at the end of Columbia's Remote Manipulator System or robotic arm [ http://collections.ic.gc.ca/satellites/english/canadian/ q8.html ]. Columbia's arm extends from the picture's right hand edge and a folded solar panel rests horizontally above Massimino's position. Dramatic backlighting is provided by a smiling sunlit [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap000115.html ] crescent of Earth's atmosphere. SM3B supplied Hubble with a new camera, and substantial power and instrument [ http://hubble.stsci.edu/sci.d.tech/nuts_.and._bolts/ instruments/ ] upgrades which are presently being turned on and prepared for operation. The next Hubble [ http://hubble.gsfc.nasa.gov/ ] service call, SM4, is planned for 2004 [ http://cos.colorado.edu/cos/ ]. |
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Atlantis Tribute
nasa, spaceshuttlegallery
This is a printable version
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488843main_2atlantis
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IMAGE |
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image |
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2010-10-15 |
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NASA |
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488843main_2atlantis |
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Endeavour Tribute
nasa, spaceshuttlegallery
This is a printable version
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483245main_2endeavour
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IMAGE |
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image |
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2010-10-15 |
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Discovery Launches with Hubb
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nasa, spaceshuttlegallery
Space shuttle Columbia on Pa
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492475main_90pc0610
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| date |
2010-10-27 |
| creator |
NASA |
| identifier |
492475main_90pc0610 |
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STS-109 Shuttle Mission Imagery |
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