Global General

Special

Newsmaker

Asia Pacific

America

Middle East

Europe

Africa

Spacewalkers pull off toughest Hubble repairs yet

(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-05-17 14:39

CAPE CANAVERAL – Spacewalking astronauts gave the Hubble Space Telescope a more commanding view of the cosmos by installing a new high-tech instrument Saturday, then pulled off their toughest job yet: fixing a broken camera.

In this photo provided by NASA, astronaut Michael Good works with the Hubble Space Telescope in the cargo bay of the earth-orbiting space shuttle Atlantis, Friday, May 15, 2009. [Agencies]

It was the third spacewalk in as many days for the shuttle Atlantis crew and the most intricate ever performed because of the unprecedented camera repairs. Astronauts had never before tried to take apart a science instrument at the 19-year-old observatory.

Related readings:  Let there be light: Camera hooked up for Hubble  Astronauts leave shuttle to work on Hubble  Astronaust prepare for 1st spacewalk to fix Hubble  Atlantis inspected for damage while chasing Hubble  Atlantis checked while chasing Hubble

Hubble's chief mechanic, John Grunsfeld, deftly opened up the burned-out camera and plucked out all four electronic cards that needed to be replaced.

"Somehow I don't think brain surgeons go 'woo-hoo' when they pull something out," one of the astronauts observed from inside Atlantis.

To everyone's surprise, the new cards and power supply pack went in just as smoothly. In fact, the astronauts found themselves running ahead of schedule for a change, their spacewalk lasting the allotted 6 1/2 hours. The first two spacewalks ended up running long because of unexpected difficulties encountered with Hubble, last visited seven years ago.

The astronauts cheered when Mission Control radioed up the news that the repaired camera had passed the first round of testing.

"That's unbelievable," Grunsfeld said.

A second round of testing was expected to last well into the night. Early Saturday evening, Mission Control told astronauts that a new spectrograph that spacewalkers also installed passed both its tests. Atlantis crew responded with what has become customary whooping it up.

Even with two spacewalks remaining, including the repair of a major instrument Sunday, NASA managers were handing out accolades and talking about how improved the telescope already is.

"At this point in time, Hubble has reached a new high in terms of its capability," Hubble program manager Preston Burch said at a news conference Saturday afternoon. "We're enjoying the moment and savoring it."

Atlantis' crew broke out in grins.

In a video sent to Earth taken before the spacewalk, Mike Massimino, who spacewalked Friday and will do so again Sunday, compared dealing with Hubble to a heavyweight fight. But he also was looking like the winner in such a bout.

"We don't warranty any of the work," Massimino joked for the camera in a heavy New York accent. "Labor's not guaranteed."

   Previous page 1 2 3 4 Next Page  

   Previous page 1 2 3 4 Next Page