STS-125 Atlantis Hubble SM4 servicing mission

cIclops · 2007-06-07 15:05:48

Shuttle Target Launch Date for Hubble Mission - 7 Jun 2007

HOUSTON - NASA managers officially are targeting Sept. 10, 2008, for the launch of the fifth and final space shuttle servicing mission to the Hubble Space Telescope. During the 11-day flight, Atlantis' seven astronauts will repair and improve the observatory's capabilities through 2013.
Mission planners have been working since last fall, when the flight was announced, to determine the best time in the shuttle manifest to support the needs of Hubble while minimizing the impact to International Space Station assembly. NASA also will support a "launch on need" flight during the Hubble mission. In the unlikely event a rescue flight becomes necessary, shuttle Endeavour currently is planned to lift off from Launch Pad 39-B at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Fla. However, managers constantly are evaluating the manifest to determine the best mission options.
Shuttle missions beyond the Hubble flight still are being assessed. Shuttle and station program officials will continue to consider options for the remainder of the shuttle flights to complete construction of the space station by 2010, when the fleet will be retired. Those target launch dates are subject to change. The complete shuttle launch manifest is available online at:

Earlier discussion about this mission in the unmanned probes forum

cIclops · 2007-09-10 09:24:21

From left: Megan McArthur, Michael Good, Gregory C. Johnson, Scott Altman (commander),
John Grunsfeld, Michael Massimino and Andrew Feustel.

Mission overview

Five spacewalks, or extravehicular activities (EVAs), will be conducted on consecutive days during the flight as the spacewalkers pair off into two teams. One team will conduct the first, third and fifth spacewalks, while the other team conducts the second and fourth spacewalks. The spacewalks will vary in length, but they generally will be around seven hours each.
The space shuttle will be launched into an orbit inclined 28.5 degrees to the equator on a trajectory that will enable it to rendezvous with Hubble some 340 statute miles above the Earth 43 hours after launch.
The shuttle’s cargo bay will be equipped with several pallets to hold the variety of equipment launched to service the telescope:
• The Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier (SLIC) will house the new Wide Field Camera 3 and the two battery modules for the telescope.
• The Orbital Replacement Unit Carrier (ORUC) will contain the refurbished Fine Guidance Sensor, the three Rate Sensor Units and its gyroscopes and the new Cosmic Origins Spectrograph.
• The Flight Support System (FSS) is the berthing platform upon which Hubble will be locked for its five days of servicing.
• The Multi-use Logistic Equipment Carrier (MULE) will be home for a number of components and spare parts for the telescope, as well as extra cans of lithium hydroxide (LiOH) that would be utilized to help cleanse carbon dioxide from the shuttle’s cabin atmosphere if the mission were to be extended for any length of time.
Following a series of jet firings to fine-tune the shuttle’s path to Hubble, it will approach the telescope from below as Altman and Johnson slowly approach the 43.5-foot long observatory. Controllers at the Goddard Space Flight Center will have sent commands to close the aperture door at the forward end of the telescope, through which starlight enters for Hubble’s observations, to protect its mirrors. They also will have positioned its solar arrays to prevent any inadvertent contamination by exhaust from shuttle jet firings.
Closing to within about 30 feet of Hubble, McArthur will extend the shuttle’s robotic arm and use it to lock onto a grapple fixture on the telescope. Once captured, she will use the arm to lower Hubble to a berthing platform in the rear of the payload bay where it will be locked in place for five days of work.
The five spacewalks to upgrade and enhance Hubble’s capabilities will be staged from an external airlock in the shuttle’s payload bay located behind the aft bulkhead of the crew cabin.
Once the telescope has been repaired and upgraded through the five spacewalks, it will be regrappled by McArthur using the robotic arm. It then will be oriented for its release and the start of a verification and checkout period for its new and upgraded instruments and systems.
After Hubble is set free, Altman will fire jets to slowly move the space shuttle away from the telescope. The crew will use video and still cameras to document the telescope as they depart the vicinity.

Mars_B4_Moon · 2007-10-07 02:47:04

This 'Cosmic Origins Spectrograph' sounds great.

Admiral_Ritt · 2007-10-22 16:34:47

Since this is the LAST hubble servicing mission, perhaps there
should be an attempt to give it the maximum amount of orbital energy
possible. Maybe via a very small ion engine.

We should try to make sure The hubble should not threaten to come down for at least 50 years. For 3 reasons.

1) it would make a nice Space Monument, a proper retirement.

2) it would remove the chance of some numbskulls proposing to create
a "repair Module" craft out of the Ares I. Just cause they can't stand the
idea of the Hubble coming down.

3) in 50 years, there would still be an option of retreiving it. A sort of
of Space Relic, just as we all know that the Viking Landers & rovers will become.

cIclops · 2007-10-23 02:56:17

During SM-4 a docking fitting will be added, this will enable another vehicle to automatically dock. This could be a deorbit booster or even the Orion spacecraft. The fitting is the passive half of the Low Impact Docking System (LIDS). With this attached there are many possibilities.

Commodore · 2007-10-24 20:39:42

2) it would remove the chance of some numbskulls proposing to create
a "repair Module" craft out of the Ares I. Just cause they can't stand the
idea of the Hubble coming down.

Theres nothing automatically wrong with continuing the upkeep on the Hubble as long as it doesn't endanger the manned space flight program, as the SM-4 has the potential to do if the shuttle receives damage on launch. Like it or not, Constellation is contingent on the (relatively) succesful conclusion to the Shuttle/ISS program.

Really, the shuttle is a fantastic construction/repair craft, even though its in a terribly fragile package. Its in our interest to develop a craft to fill this void in our capabilities and help build our experience in permanent on orbit craft as a counterpart to our lunar base in the build up to Mars.

cIclops · 2007-10-25 02:35:24

Yes it's a risk, but every Shuttle flight is a risk (LOM is about 1 in 20, LOC about 1 in 60). Losing another Shuttle would probably finish the program and stop completion of the ISS unless the reason was quickly found and fixed. This could happen on any of the 14 remaining missions. Two Shuttles can still complete the manifest after SM4 and launch the last modules. Hubble is worth the risk.

cIclops · 2008-01-10 04:42:05

AAS presentation (PDF 11MB) - 8 Jan 2008 - mostly superb images and a new EVA timeline.

This is an incredible series of EVAs. Two new instruments will be installed, two more will be repaired and a new set of gyroscopes and batteries installed as well as new thermal protection! A soft capture fitting will also be installed that will be compatible with Orion.

EVA 1: (Initial Setup) Install WFC-3 + Replace Battery (Closeout)

EVA 2: (Setup) Replace Gyroscopes (RSU) + Replace Battery (Closeout)

EVA 3: (Setup) Install COS + Repair ACS Part-1 (Closeout)

EVA 4: (Setup) Repair STIS + install NOBL (Closeout)

EVA 5: (Setup) Replace FGS + Repair ACS Part-2 (Final Closeout)

ACS = Advanced Camera for Surveys
COS = Cosmic Origins Spectrograph
FGS = Fine Guidance Sensor
NOBL = New Outer Blanket Layer
RSU = Rate Sensor Unit
STIS = Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph
WFC = Wide Field Camera

cIclops · 2008-05-22 10:25:15

Updates Space Shuttle Target Launch Dates - 22 May 2008

HOUSTON -- NASA Thursday adjusted the target launch dates for two space shuttle missions in 2008. Shuttle Atlantis' STS-125 mission to the Hubble Space Telescope is now targeted for Oct. 8, and Endeavour's STS-126 supply mission to the International Space Station has moved from Oct. 16 to Nov. 10.
The final servicing mission to Hubble was moved from Aug. 28 due to a delay in deliveries of components, including the external fuel tanks, and the need to prepare Endeavour for a possible rescue mission approximately two weeks after STS-125 launches.

Terraformer · 2008-05-24 13:15:02

Atlantis' seven astronauts will repair and improve the observatory's capabilities through 2013.

Well, if the Public want to keep it functioning after 2013, NASA can use it as an excuse to demand enough funding to get Orion by 2013.

SpaceNut · 2014-02-15 15:27:18

For those that remember the strong words for and against using the shuttle to make the needed refurbishment to keep the telescope running at the time for what was an unknown period of years its sure has out lived the expectations of all those that use it still even today.

'A Lot of Unknowns': 17 Years Since the Shuttle's Second Hubble Servicing Mission (Part 1)

We argued about the initial cost to get a telescope into orbit, send a mission with corrective lenses and even the first equipment upgarde but it was the last mission that lead to even more words being exchanged as I recall.

A backup mission for rescue waiting on the pad while those in orbit did all the work to make it usuable once more.

There was even an alternative mission plan created to use the equipment on the ground to make a new telescope and launch it on a atlas call HOP. It was to cost about a billion but I think the details of the mission are gone due to the site crash.

SpaceNut · 2014-12-03 21:06:10

I was reminded about Hubble in that what will NASA do, just let it burn up?
http://www.popsci.com/last-mission-hubb … scope-burn

SpaceNut · 2018-10-08 18:44:22

I can hardly believe that this is the newest of topics for Hubble....Yup its still up there giving us many great images of the universe that some day will be replaced but untill then here is its status.

The Hubble Space Telescope is a space telescope that was launched into low Earth orbit in 1990 and remains in operation. Although not the first space telescope, Hubble is one of the largest and most versatile, and is well known as both a vital research tool and a public relations boon for astronomy. The HST is named after the astronomer Edwin Hubble, and is one of NASA's Great Observatories, along with the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory, the Chandra X-ray Observatory, and the Spitzer Space Telescope.

Launched by the space shuttle flight 31 back in Apr 24, 1990.

Hubble telescope hit by mechanical failure

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hubble_Space_Telescope

Here is a list of topics that have Hubble:
http://newmars.com/forums/viewtopic.php?id=3900
http://newmars.com/forums/viewtopic.php?id=3408
http://newmars.com/forums/viewtopic.php?id=3408
http://newmars.com/forums/viewtopic.php?id=3384
http://newmars.com/forums/viewtopic.php?id=3148
http://newmars.com/forums/viewtopic.php?id=3074
http://newmars.com/forums/viewtopic.php?id=2969
http://newmars.com/forums/viewtopic.php?id=2170

These have not been repaired yet but in time I hope that I can get to them for the shifting and other artifacts from web hosting conversions over the years.
http://newmars.com/forums/viewtopic.php?id=2133
http://newmars.com/forums/viewtopic.php?id=1996
http://newmars.com/forums/viewtopic.php?id=1885
http://newmars.com/forums/viewtopic.php?id=1883

SpaceNut · 2020-12-14 18:04:13

Wow quite the round up of what i did not find....

For those that might

SpaceNut · 2021-06-20 19:22:42

The aging telescope is still presenting issues that an overhaul would fix... NASA Struggles to Fix Failure of Hubble Space Telescope’s 1980s Computer

It is hard to believe that the NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, has been in space more than 30 years

https://www.newsweek.com/hubble-telesco … ms-1601293

tahanson43206 · 2021-06-20 19:35:41

It might be worth while to re-consider the "last maintenance" idea ... A SpaceX vehicle might be able to provide another service opportunity at a MUCH better price than the Shuttle was ever able to do.

The James Webb is taking so long, another Hubble repair might be justified.

(th)

SpaceNut · 2021-06-20 19:52:25

Since its got a tile heat shield there will be those that will want a 2 ship package to get it done

Not sure that anything is or was being made for replacement upgrade parts....

RobertDyck · 2021-06-20 21:35:47

Hubble can do things that James Webb cannot. Hubble has the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrometer, which includes ability to measure spectra in short wavelengths (UV), and it's able to focus on asteroids within our solar system. James Webb is optimized for IR, and designed to focus on objects outside our solar system. The only way to tell the difference between a metal asteroid and estantite chondrite is short wavelength spectra. Estantite is a nickel oxide mineral. Earth's ozone layer blocks UV in those wavelengths needed to tell the difference, so no ground based telescope can do this. For asteroid mining, you want metal asteroids only. Those obsessed about planetary defence against asteroids, it's also important to know what the asteroid is made of. Hubble can do this, James Webb cannot.

I attended a meeting of the local chapter of the Royal Astronautical Society of Canada. One person there was a professional astronomer. She had worked with Hubble, and was obsessed with stars in other galaxies. She had argued NASA should remove the STIS instrument, replace it with the Galactic Origins Spectrometer. She claimed STIS had no useful purpose, and attempting to repair it would be too risky. I had argued that NASA must accommodate all users of Hubble, not just one group. I had posted on this forum, and been active within the Mars Society. I wanted STIS repaired. NASA chose to repair STIS and install GOS as well, so both users of Hubble would be accommodated. Yea! I won one! I had attended that meeting in an attempt to recruit professional astronomers so we could form a group to actually use Hubble to identify metal asteroids. This woman was the obvious candidate, but turns out she had lobbied NASA on exactly the opposite side of the issue. She was amazed that I won. Obviously, she wasn't willing to work with me.

I would like Hubble to remain in operation. We still haven't examined near-Earth M-type asteroids to determine which are true metal and which are estantite. To be clear, true metal asteroids are made of the same iron/nickel alloy as meteorites that fall to Earth. Mostly iron, some nickel, some have more nickel, others less. All have small quantities of gold, silver, platinum, and other platinum group metals. For profit, precious metals are what we want to bring to Earth. True metal asteroids can be processed on-site using the Mond process. Fairly simple and easy, powered by moderate heat that can be achieved with sunlight concentrated by a mirror. Lots of sunlight in space. The Mond process doesn't work with oxide ore, so won't work with estantite asteroids. Left over from the Mond process will be copious quantity of highly pure iron and nickel, and the Mond process uses carbon monoxide which can be a carbon source to turn iron into steel. That means copious quantity of stainless steel left over as tailings from the mining operation. Stainless steel that can be used to build a space station, or Large ship.

Yes, I want Hubble serviced.

kbd512 · 2021-06-21 04:53:36

Robert,

What you described is a persistent problem amongst academics. They fixate on whatever they've studied in detail, to the exclusion of all other considerations. It's as if the rest of the universe ceases to exist. Some are interested in practical applications of their knowledge, but many are not. While studying other stars is interesting in its own right, at some point we need practical ways to obtain materials from space so that we can build the ships required to explore and colonize space. Stainless steel is the material of choice for that purpose. If we can land on enough of these objects and process the metal ores they contain, then we can build a fleet of arbitrary size using solar thermal power to smelt metals. Access to more Platinum group metals than we could economically extract from Earth is a nice bonus.

SpaceNut · 2021-06-26 12:17:44

Even the Hubble Space Telescope's backup computer is glitching now - raising new questions about what's gone wrong

0444a8d01e1f8c37f7d5b599019a7750

Oldfart1939 · 2021-06-26 22:30:54

I think "what's gone wrong" is simply old age.

SpaceNut · 2021-07-04 09:30:31

update

Mars_B4_Moon wrote:

NASA is still investigating what caused Hubble to go dark.
https://www.folkspaper.com/topic/nasa-i … 63552.html
computer problem?
A Computer Glitch Stopped Hubble's Operations. So Far, Restart Efforts Have Failed
https://www.iflscience.com/space/a-comp … ve-failed/
Is this the END for Hubble? Experts say 31-year-old space telescope is 'beyond repair' despite NASA insisting there are 'multiple options'
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech … s-fix.html
NASA taking “careful and deliberate” approach to repairing Hubble computer
https://spacenews.com/nasa-taking-caref … -computer/

SpaceNut · 2021-07-04 09:32:30

The question is not that we can service it back into operation is the cost justified for continued use?

RobertDyck · 2021-07-04 16:04:41

Hubble can do things that no other telescope can do. So it isn't cost justification for continued use, it's cost to repair and operate vs cost to replace and operate that.

Oldfart1939 · 2021-07-04 18:44:00

Hubble is a World Treasure, but it's ageing. I would be supportive of a larger replacement--nothing so grandiose as another James Webb or even the WFIRST telescope. Apply the KISS principles and make a same as Hubble mission replacement that can be carried to orbit by either a Falcon 9 launch or a Starship launch--not a complex folding mirror monstrosity. Not another multi-billion dollar system.

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#1 2007-06-07 15:05:48

Re: STS-125 Atlantis Hubble SM4 servicing mission

#2 2007-09-10 09:24:21

Re: STS-125 Atlantis Hubble SM4 servicing mission

#3 2007-10-07 02:47:04

Re: STS-125 Atlantis Hubble SM4 servicing mission

#4 2007-10-22 16:34:47

Re: STS-125 Atlantis Hubble SM4 servicing mission

#5 2007-10-23 02:56:17

Re: STS-125 Atlantis Hubble SM4 servicing mission

#6 2007-10-24 20:39:42

Re: STS-125 Atlantis Hubble SM4 servicing mission

#7 2007-10-25 02:35:24

Re: STS-125 Atlantis Hubble SM4 servicing mission

#8 2008-01-10 04:42:05

Re: STS-125 Atlantis Hubble SM4 servicing mission

#9 2008-05-22 10:25:15

Re: STS-125 Atlantis Hubble SM4 servicing mission

#10 2008-05-24 13:15:02

Re: STS-125 Atlantis Hubble SM4 servicing mission

#11 2014-02-15 15:27:18

Re: STS-125 Atlantis Hubble SM4 servicing mission

#12 2014-12-03 21:06:10

Re: STS-125 Atlantis Hubble SM4 servicing mission

#13 2018-10-08 18:44:22

Re: STS-125 Atlantis Hubble SM4 servicing mission

#14 2020-12-14 18:04:13

Re: STS-125 Atlantis Hubble SM4 servicing mission

#15 2021-06-20 19:22:42

Re: STS-125 Atlantis Hubble SM4 servicing mission

#16 2021-06-20 19:35:41

Re: STS-125 Atlantis Hubble SM4 servicing mission

#17 2021-06-20 19:52:25

Re: STS-125 Atlantis Hubble SM4 servicing mission

#18 2021-06-20 21:35:47

Re: STS-125 Atlantis Hubble SM4 servicing mission

#19 2021-06-21 04:53:36

Re: STS-125 Atlantis Hubble SM4 servicing mission

#20 2021-06-26 12:17:44

Re: STS-125 Atlantis Hubble SM4 servicing mission

#21 2021-06-26 22:30:54

Re: STS-125 Atlantis Hubble SM4 servicing mission

#22 2021-07-04 09:30:31

Re: STS-125 Atlantis Hubble SM4 servicing mission

#23 2021-07-04 09:32:30

Re: STS-125 Atlantis Hubble SM4 servicing mission

#24 2021-07-04 16:04:41

Re: STS-125 Atlantis Hubble SM4 servicing mission

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Re: STS-125 Atlantis Hubble SM4 servicing mission

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