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MAY 2009 CONTENTS i
CONTENTSSection PageS T S - 1 25 MI S S I ON OVE R VI E W .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1S T S - 1 25 T I ME L I NE OVE R VI E W .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1MI S S I ON PR OFI L E . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . 1 3 H S T S E R VI C I NG MI S S I ON PR I OR I T IE S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 5H UB B L E S PA C E T E L E S C OPE H I S T OR Y . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 7FL I G H T C ON T R OL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . 27 S T S - 1 25 A T L A N T IS C R E W . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29PA Y L OA D OVE R VI E W . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 9
H U B B L E S E R V I C I N G M I S S I O N P A Y L O A D B A Y H A R D W A R E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 9F L I G H T S U P P O R T S Y S T E M ( F S S ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 9 S O F T C A P T U R E A N D R E N D E Z V O U S S Y S T E M ( S C R S ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 9S U P E R L I G H T W E I G H T I N T E R C H A N G E A B L E C A R R I E R ( S L I C ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 1 O R B I T A L R E P L A C E M E N T U N I T C A R R I E R . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 2 M U L T I - U S E L I G H T W E I G H T E Q U I P M E N T C A R R I E R . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 3
R E N D E Z VOUS & D OC K I N G . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 3S PA C E W A L KS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . 6 7 S M4 FA C I L I T IE S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . 7 7S H UT T L E R E FE R E NC E D A T A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81L A UN C H A N D L A N D I N G . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
L A U N C H . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 9 A B O R T - T O - O R B I T . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9T R A N S A T L A N T I C A B O R T L A N D I N G . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 9 R E T U R N - T O - L A U N C H - S I T E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 9 A B O R T O N C E A R O U N D . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 9L A N D I N G . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 9
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ii CONTENTS MAY 2009
Section PageME D I A A S S I S TA N C E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 07PUB L I C A FFA I R S C ON T A C T S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 09
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MAY 2009 MISSION OVERVIEW 1
STS-125 MISSION OVERVIEW
The
STS
125
crew
members
take
a
moment
to
pose
for
a
crew
photo
before
a
training
session
in
the
SpaceVehicleMockupFacilityatNASAsJohnsonSpaceCenter. Fromtheleftareastronauts
MikeMassimino,MichaelGood,bothmissionspecialists;GregoryC.Johnson,pilot;
ScottAltman,commander;MeganMcArthur,JohnGrunsfeldandAndrewFeustel,
allmissionspecialists.
TheSTS125missionofspaceshuttleAtlantisis
scheduled for launch at 1:31 p.m. EDT on
Tuesday,May 12, from LaunchComplex 39A
at NASAs Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
Atlantiscrew
will
service
the
Hubble
Space
Telescopeforthefifthandfinaltime.
Nineteen years since its launch inApril 1990,
Hubbles view of the universe again will be
dramaticallyimprovedwiththeadditionoftwo
new science instruments, the repair of two
others,and the replacementofotherhardware
thatwillextendthetelescopeslifeintothenext
decade.
The mission will be commanded by retired
Navy
Capt.
Scott
Altman
with
retired
Navy
Capt. Gregory C. Johnson serving as pilot.
MeganMcArthur is the flight engineer. The
remaining fourmissionspecialistswillpairoff
in teams for the five spacewalks. They are
AndrewFeustel,AirForceCol.MichaelGood,
JohnGrunsfeld,andMikeMassimino.
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MAY 2009 MISSION OVERVIEW 3
OnFlightDayThreeAtlantiswillarrivewithin
35feetof the telescope,atanaltitudeofabout
350 statute miles. McArthur will carefully
extend
the
robotic
arm
to
capture
a
grapple
fixtureonthetelescope. Shethenwillcarefully
placeHubbleatopitsFlightSupportSystem,or
FSS, in theback end of the shuttles payload
bay.
TheFSSservesasahightechlazySusanthat
canberotatedandtiltedtopresentthedesired
partofthetelescopeforwardforeasyaccessby
spacewalkers, and to offer the best viewing
angles for cameras and crewmembers inside
Atlantis.It
also
provides
all
electrical
and
mechanical interfacesbetween the shuttle and
thetelescope.
WithAtlantispayloadbay essentially serving
asagiant toolbox, thestage isset for the first
of five spacewalks, known as Extravehicular
Activity,
or
EVA,
on
consecutive
days
beginningonFlightDayFour. Eachspacewalk
isscheduledtolastabout61/2hours.
Since almost every part of Hubble was
designed to be repaired and upgraded by
astronauts, training has focused on actual
hardware at NASAs Goddard Space Flight
Center, Greenbelt, Md., and underwater
mockups at the Johnson Space Center in
Houston,wheretimelineshavebeenrefinedfor
eachdays
scheduled
work.
AstronautJohnGrunsfeld,STS125missionspecialist,donsatrainingversionofthe
ExtravehicularMobilityUnit(EMU)spacesuitbeforebeingsubmergedinthewaters
oftheNeutralBuoyancyLaboratory(NBL)neartheJohnsonSpaceCenter. Astronauts
AndrewFeustel(left)andMikeMassimino,bothmissionspecialists,assistGrunsfeld.
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4 MISSION OVERVIEW MAY 2009
The actual servicing ofHubblewillbegin on
FlightDayFourwiththefirstEVA. Grunsfeld,
joined by Feustel initially, will focus on
swapping
the
current
Wide
Field
Planetary
Camera 2 with the likesized Wide Field
Camera 3, which will extend Hubbles
capability not onlyby seeing deeper into the
universe, but also by providing widefield
imagery in all three regionsof the spectrum
ultraviolet,visibleandnear infrared. It is this
widefieldpanchromaticcoveragethatmakes
WFC3 so unique. The new instrument has a
mass of 900 pounds and measures 26 inches
high,74incheswide,and87incheslong.
The next task has Grunsfeld and Feustel
swapping the Science Instrument Command
and Data Handling (SI C&DH) system in
Bay10withagroundsparecalled intoservice
when the inorbit units A side suffered
a permanent electronic failure in late
September 2008. Theunitprovides command
capability to Hubbles science instruments
from the ground and sends data back. Its
criticalitydictated
aslight
shuffle
to
the
spacewalk plan to place the removal and
replacement of the SIC&DH as the servicing
missionssecondmajortask.
The first spacewalk will wrap up with a
forwardlookingtaskrequiringinstallationofa
SoftCaptureandRendezvousSystem,orSCRS,
which will enable the future rendezvous,
capture,andsafedisposalofHubblebyeithera
crewedorroboticmission.
Comprisedof theSoftCaptureMechanism,or
SCM, and the RelativeNavigation System, or
RNS, the SCRS will mount underneath the
telescope,usingaLowImpactDockingSystem,
or LIDS, interface. LIDS is designed to be
compatible
with
the
rendezvous
and
docking
systems that will be used on the next
generationspacetransportationvehicle.
The SCM is about 72 inches in diameter and
24 inches high and will be attached to the
telescopeby threesetsofjawsthatclamponto
the existing berthing pins on Hubbles aft
bulkhead.
Alternating EVA days, Massimino and Good
willtake
their
turn
on
Flight
Day
Five,
focusing
on the removaland replacementof threepairs
ofgyroscopes known asRate SensorUnits, or
RSUs. In concertwith star trackers and Fine
Guidance Sensors (FGS), the RSUs help point
the telescope precisely for its science
observations.
EVA2willendwiththeswapoutofthefirstof
twobatterymodulesbehindanequipmentbay
directlyabovetheWFC3location. Eachmodule
weighs460
pounds
and
measures
36
inches
long, 32 incheswide, and 11 inches high and
contains threebatteries. Eachnickelhydrogen
batteryweighs125poundsandprovidesallthe
electricalpower to supportHubble operations
during the night portion of its orbit. The
secondbatterymodulewillbe installedduring
thefifthandfinalEVA.
Designed to last only five years, Hubbles
batteries
have
lasted
more
than
13
years
beyond
theirdesignlife,longerthanthoseinanyother
spacecraftlocatedinlowEarthorbit.
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MAY 2009 MISSION OVERVIEW 5
Installationof
the
second
new
science
instrument, the CosmicOrigins Spectrograph,
or COS,will kick off the third spacewalkby
GrunsfeldandFeustelonFlightDaySix. The
size of a phone booth, COS will effectively
restore spectroscopy to Hubbles scientific
arsenal. Itwill replace the CorrectiveOptics
Space Telescope Axial Replacement, or
COSTAR, instrument that corrected Hubbles
vision during the first servicing mission
15years
ago.
COS
weighs
851
pounds
and
measures 86 inches long, 35 incheswide, and
35incheshigh.
COSTARincludedaningeniousdesignofsmall
mirrors on deployable arms that provided
correctedlight
beams
to
the
first
generation
of
Hubble instrumentsin1993. Withallscientific
instruments designed on the ground to
compensatefortheprimarymirrorsspherical
aberration,COSTAR isno longerneededand
willbe placed in a protective canister for its
returntoEarth.
With theCOS task completed,Grunsfeld and
Feustelwill turn their attention to one of the
more delicate tasks of the mission, the
restoration of the power supply for the
AdvancedCamera forSurveys,orACS,which
hasbeen inoperable sinceJanuary 2007,when
itsbackuppowersupplysystemfailed.
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6 MISSION OVERVIEW MAY 2009
Whileseatedatthecommandersstation,astronautScottAltman,STS125commander,
participatesinapostinsertion/deorbittrainingsessioninthecrewcompartmenttrainer(CCT2)
intheSpaceVehicleMockupFacilityatJohnsonSpaceCenter.
RepairingtheACSpowersupplywillbeginbypreparing the worksite for removal and
replacement of the failed circuitboards. This
requires first removing 36 screws from the
electronics access panel using a specially
designed fastener capture plate that will
prevent loss of the tiny screws after removal.
Whenallofthescrewshavebeenremoved,the
entirecaptureplatecanbereleasedasoneunit,
safely taking theaccesspanelandscrewswith
it.
With theACSpower failure likely confined to
the instruments lowvoltage power supply, a
direct repair of that subsystemwould require
toomuch time for thespacewalk,soengineers
devisedaplan to replace theentireelectronics
box, which will be powered by a separatelowvoltage power supply. The replacement
powersupplydrawspowerfromtheAdvanced
CameraforSurveysprimarypowerconnectors
viaanastronautinstalledsplittercable.
Ifcarefulremovalof36screwswerentenough,
the fourthspacewalkonFlightDaySevenwill
arguably set the bar higher for access panel
removalwhenMassimino andGood focus on
therepair
of
the
Space
Telescope
Imaging
Spectrographs,orSTIS,power supply system.
Theywillbeginby attaching another fastener
captureplatetosecure117screws,sotheywill
nothavetocapturethemwiththeirpressurized
glovedhands.
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MAY 2009 MISSION OVERVIEW 7
AstronautMeganMcArthur,STS125missionspecialist,donsatrainingversionofher
shuttlelaunchandentrysuitinpreparationforatrainingsessionintheSpaceVehicleMockup
FacilityatJohnsonSpaceCenter. UnitedSpaceAlliance(USA)suittechnicianCodyMcNeil
assistsMcArthur.
To repair STIS, astronauts will replace a
lowvoltage power supply board, which
containsafailed
power
converter.
The
repair
is
straightforward, but intricate, and Hubble
engineershavedesignedspecialtoolstorestore
one of two fully redundant electronic chains
of the instrument. Due to this power supply
failure, STIS has been in safe mode since
August2004.
Oncetheyhavegainedaccessbehindthepanel,
the next challengewillbe grasping the failed
circuit
boards
for
removal.
A
specially
designed card extraction tool will allow the
astronauts tomoreeasilygrabandremove the
circuit boards, using large handles made
specifically for their gloves. The astronauts
will remove the failedpower supply cardand
click in the new one, much like replacing a
circuitboardonacomputer.
Anew, simplifiedpanel thenwillbe installed
over theopenelectronicscavity,only this time
117fasteners
will
not
be
required
because
the
new panel fits securely in placeby throwing
onlytwohandfriendlyleversintoplace.
The fourth spacewalk will conclude with the
removalofsome temporary thermal insulation
on the outside of an equipment bay, and
installation of a more permanent thermal
protection blanket known as New Outer
BlanketLayer,orNOBL.
Thefifth
and
final
spacewalk
planned
for
HubbleservicingwillbeginonFlightDayEight
with Grunsfeld and Feustel installing the
second battery group replacement in an
equipmentbayabovetheWideFieldCamera2
and next to the compartment where the first
batterysetwasinstalledonEVA2.
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8 MISSION OVERVIEW MAY 2009
This
image
depicts
the
release
of
the
Hubble
Space
Telescope
on
Flight
Day
9.
The two astronauts then will remove and
replaceoneofthethreeFineGuidanceSensors,
FGS2,usedtoprovidepointinginformationfor
the spacecraft. The sensors also serve as a
scientific instrument for determining the
precisepositionandmotionofstars,knownas
astrometry.
The threeFineGuidanceSensors canhold the
telescopesteady
for
scientific
observations
over
longperiodsoftime. Thesystemservesasthe
telescopes pointing control system and has a
precision comparable tobeing able to hold a
laserbeam focusedonadime200milesaway,
the distance from Washington D.C. to New
YorkCity.
Therefurbishedand improvedFGSpreviously
had been returned on the third servicing
mission in December 1999. This refurbished
unit has an enhanced inorbit alignment
capability over the original FGS design. It
weighs478poundsandmeasures5.5feetlong,
4feet
wide,
and
2feet
high.
GrunsfeldandFeustelslasttaskbeforeclosing
upthetelescopeforgoodwillbetoremoveand
replaceat leastoneadditional thermalblanket
(NOBL)protectingHubbleselectronics.
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MAY 2009 MISSION OVERVIEW 9
AftertheworkonHubbleiscompleted,Altman
andJohnsonwill oversee Atlantis reboost of
the telescope to a higher altitude, ensuring it
will
survive
the
tug
of
Earths
gravity
for
the
remainder of its operational lifetime. A final
decisiononhowmuch altitudewillbegained
by the reboostwillbe dependent onAtlantis
availablepropellant.
Hubble Space Telescope science observations
are expected to resume approximately three
weeksaftertheshuttledeparts.
Withservicingcompleted,thestagewillbeset
forrelease
of
Hubble
from
the
shuttles
robotic
arm for the final time on Flight Day Nine.
Beforerelease,thetelescopesnewbatterieswill
be fully charged by placing Atlantis into a
position allowing Hubbles solar arrays sun
time. The aperturedoorwillbeopened and
the highgain antennas once again will be
deployed.
McArthur will release the grapple fixture as
Altman and Johnson guide Atlantis carefully
away,before
subtle
thruster
firings
place
the
shuttleasafedistancefromHubble.
Laterthatday,attentionwillturntosurveysof
Atlantis thermal protection system, including
its wing leading edge panels, nose cap and
underside tiles. Imagery expertswill evaluate
thedatatodeterminethehealthofthethermal
protection
system.
A crewoffdutyday on FlightDay 10willbe
followed on Flight Day 11 by the standard
daybeforelanding checkout of landing
systems,includingtheflightcontrolsystemand
reaction control system thrusters and
accompanyingelectronics.
OnceAtlantisisclearedforentryfollowingthe
late inspection imagery review, space shuttle
Endeavour,on
standby
at
Launch
Pad
39B
for
serviceasarescuevehicle,willbe released for
processing toward its mission to the
International Space Station inJune. Kennedy
groundoperationswillprepareitforrelocation
topad39AaboutaweekafterAtlantisreturns
toEarth.
STS125willbethe30thforAtlantis,following
its previous flight to the International Space
Station in February 2008 to deliver the
EuropeanSpace
Agencys
Columbus
science
laboratory. Thiswillbe the126th flight in the
history of the shuttle program. Landing is
scheduledatabout9:58a.m.EDTonMay23,at
theKennedySpaceCenter.
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10 MISSION OVERVIEW MAY 2009
Thespace
shuttle
Atlantis,
backdropped
over
acolorful
Earth,
is
pictured
after
it
undockedfromtheInternationalSpaceStationin2006.
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MAY 2009 TIMELINE OVERVIEW 11
STS-125 TIMELINE OVERVIEW
Flight Day 1
Launch PayloadBayDoorOpening KuBandAntennaDeployment ShuttleRoboticArmActivation SpaceSupportEquipmentCheckout UmbilicalWellandHandheldExternal
TankVideoandStillsDownlink
Flight Day 2
AtlantisThermalProtectionSystemSurveywithOrbiterBoomSensorSystem
ExtravehicularMobilityUnitCheckout PayloadBayFlightSupportSystem
Preparations
RendezvousToolsCheckout HSTApertureDoorClosure HSTManeuvertoRendezvousandGrapple
Attitude
HSTHighGainAntennaRetractionFlight Day 3
RendezvouswiththeHubbleSpaceTelescope
HSTSolarArraysPositionedforGrapple HSTGrappleandBerthonFlightSupport
System
ShuttleRoboticArmSurveyofHST EVA1ProcedureReviewFlight Day 4
EVA1byGrunsfeldandFeustel(WideFieldCameraIIIInstallation,Science
InstrumentCommandandDataHandling
Computer,SoftCaptureMechanism
InstallationandLatchOverCenterlineKit
Installation)
WideFieldCameraIIIAlivenessTestandCheckout
SIC&DHAlivenessCheckout Bay3BatteryCheckout EVA2ProcedureReviewFlight Day 5
EVA
2
by
Massimino
and
Good
(Rate
SensorUnitChangeoutandBay2Battery
Changeout)
Bay2BatteryCheckout RateSensorUnitCheckout EVA3ProcedureReviewFlight Day 6
EVA3byGrunsfeldandFeustel(CosmicOrigins
Spectrograph
replaces
the
CorrectiveOpticsSpaceTelescopeAxial
ReplacementknownasCOSTARandthe
repairtotheAdvancedCameraforSurveys)
CosmicOriginsSpectrographCheckout ASCCheckout EVA4ProcedureReview
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12 TIMELINE OVERVIEW MAY 2009
Flight Day 7
EVA4byMassiminoandGood(SpaceTelescopeImagingSpectrograph
refurbishmentand
New
Outer
Layer
BlanketreplacementoverBay8)
SpaceTelescopeImagingSpectrographCheckout
EVA5ProcedureReviewFlight Day 8
EVA5byGrunsfeldandFeustel(Bay3Battery
Changeout,
Fine
Guidance
Sensor
2
ReplacementandNewOuterLayerBlanket
replacementoverBay5)
FineGuidanceSensor2Checkout Bay3BatteryCheckout AdvancedCameraforSurveysandWide
FieldCameraIIICombinedCheckout
HighGainAntennaDeployment HSTReboost,ifpropellantpermits RendezvousToolsCheckoutFlight Day 9
HSTApertureDoorOpening Atlantis/HSTManeuvertoReleaseAttitude
HSTRelease AtlantisSeparationManeuver FlightSupportSystemStowageinPayload
Bay
OBSSUnberth OBSSLateInspectionofAtlantisThermal
ProtectionSystem
Flight Day 10
CrewOffDutyTime CrewNewsConference Atlantis/ISSShiptoShipCallFlight Day 11
FlightControlSystemCheckout ReactionControlSystemHotFireTest CabinStowage
Ku
Band
Antenna
Stowage
Flight Day 12
DeorbitPreparations PayloadBayDoorClosing DeorbitBurn KennedySpaceCenterLanding
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MAY 2009 MISSION PROFILE 13
MISSION PROFILE
CREWCommander: ScottAltman
Pilot: GregoryC.Johnson
MissionSpecialist1: MichaelGoodMissionSpecialist2: MeganMcArthurMissionSpecialist3: JohnGrunsfeldMissionSpecialist4: MikeMassiminoMissionSpecialist5: AndrewFeustelLAUNCH
Orbiter: Atlantis(OV104)LaunchSite: KennedySpaceCenter
LaunchPad39A
LaunchDate: May12,2009LaunchTime: 1:31p.m.EDTLaunchWindow: 42minutes
(approximately)
Altitude: 297NauticalMiles(342miles)Orbital
Insertion;304NM
(350miles)
Rendezvous
Inclination: 28.5DegreesDuration: 10Days20Hours
27Minutes
VEHICLE DATA
ShuttleLiftoffWeight: 4,519,343pounds
Orbiter/PayloadLiftoffWeight: 264,165pounds
Orbiter/PayloadLandingWeight: 226,040pounds
SoftwareVersion: OI32
Space Shuttle Main Engines:
SSME1: 2059SSME2: 2044SSME3: 2057ExternalTank: ET130SRBSet: BI137RSRMSet: 105SHUTTLE ABORTS
Abort Landing Sites
RTLS: KennedySpaceCenterShuttleLandingFacility
TAL: PrimaryMoron,SpainAOA: PrimaryEdwardsAirForceBaseLANDING
LandingDate: May23,2009LandingTime: 9:58a.m.EDTPrimarylandingSite: KennedySpaceCenter
ShuttleLandingFacility
PAYLOADS
HubbleSpaceTelescopeServicingMission
(HSTSM4)
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14 MISSION PROFILE MAY 2009
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MAY 2009 MISSION PRIORITIES 15
HST SERVICING MISSION PRIORITIES
1.Three
Rate
Sensor
Unit
(gyroscope)
removal
andreplacement
2. WideFieldCamera3installedinplaceofWideFieldPlanetaryCamera2
3. ScienceInstrumentCommand&DataHandlingSystemswapout
4. CosmicOriginsSpectrographinstallation5. BatteryModulereplacementinstallation
(Bays2and3)6. FineGuidanceSensor2removaland
replacement
7.Remaining
instrument
repair
8. SpaceTelescopeImagingSpectrograph
powersupplysystemrepair,orrestorepowersupplyfortheAdvancedCameraforSurveys*
9. NewOuterBlanketLayerinstallation(Bays8,5&7)
10.SoftCaptureMechanisminstallation11.ReboostHubbleSpaceTelescopealtitude*Choiceoffirstinstrumentrepairwillbeprioritizedbased on spacewalk efficiency and missionreplanningscenarios
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16 MISSION PRIORITIES MAY 2009
HST SERVICING MISSION SUCCESS CRITERIA
MinimumMissionSuccess TwoRateSensorUnits(fourgyroscopes)
WideFieldCamera3 ScienceInstrumentCommand&DataHandlingsystem
CosmicOriginsSpectrograph Bay2&3BatteryModulereplacements(six
new
batteries)
FullMissionSuccess ThreeRateSensorUnits(fivegyroscopes)
WideFieldCamera3 ScienceInstrumentCommand&DataHandlingsystem
CosmicOriginsSpectrograph Bay2&3BatteryModulereplacements(six
new
batteries)
SpaceTelescopeImagingSpectrographrepair,orAdvancedCameraforSurveysrepair
FineGuidanceSensor2
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MAY 2009 HST HISTORY 17
HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE HISTORY
TheHubbleSpaceTelescope(HST)headsbacktowarditsnormalroutine,after
aweekofservicingandupgradingbytheSTS109astronautcrewin2002.
HUBBLE PROGRAM
Launched inApril 1990 and poised formany
moreyearsoftrailblazingsciencerangingfrom
our own solar system to the edge of the
observable universe, NASAs Hubble Space
Telescope is fulfilling the hopes astronomers
have long held for a large, optically superb
telescope orbiting above theEarthsdistorting
atmosphere and providing uniquely clear anddeepviewsofthecosmos.
The only one of NASAs four Great
Observatories(Hubble,ComptonGammaRay
Observatory,ChandraXRayObservatory,and
Spitzer SpaceTelescope) that is serviceableby
space shuttle astronauts, Hubble has seen its
capabilities grow immensely in its 18 historic
years of operation. This has been the direct
result of the installation of new, cuttingedge
scientific instruments and more powerful
engineering components. Replacement of
aging or failed parts has been an important
aspectofservicingandhasbeenresponsiblefor
thetelescopeslongevity.
Allof
the
Great
Observatories
have
aparticular
range of light or electromagnetic radiation to
which they are designed and are sensitive.
Hubblesdomain extends from theultraviolet,
through the visible (towhich human eyes are
sensitive),andtothenearinfrared. Intermsof
the wavelength of light, Hubbles coverage
rangesfrom1,200Angstroms in theultraviolet
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18 HST HISTORY MAY 2009
(1 Angstrom = 1 hundredmillionth of a
centimeter) to 2.4microns (24,000Angstroms)
in the nearinfrared. Hubbles UVtonearIR
spectral
range
is
a
key
piece
of
astronomical
realestateadominantrangeofwavelengths
emitted by stars and galaxies and Hubble
takes advantage of this access with both
imagingandspectroscopy.
Compared togroundbased telescopes,Hubble
isnotparticularlylarge. Withaprimarymirror
diameter of 2.4 meters (94.5 inches), Hubble
would at most be considered a mediumsize
telescope on the ground. However, the
combinationof
its
precision
optics,
location
above the atmosphere, stateoftheart
instrumentation, and unprecedented pointing
stability and control, allows Hubble to more
thanmake up for its lack of size. Themost
detailed lookat the farthestknowngalaxies in
the universe has been obtained by imaging
from the Hubble Space Telescope.
Spectroscopically,Hubblehasdetected several
atomic constituents in the atmosphere of a
planetoutside
our
solar
system,
an
enormously
difficultmeasurementandafirstinthiscritical
andgrowingfieldwhoseultimateaimistolook
forplaceselsewhere in theuniversewhere the
conditionsforlifeexist.
On Jan. 16, 2004, NASA Administrator
SeanOKeefeannouncedthecancellationofthe
final scheduled servicing mission to Hubble.
The review board studying the shuttle
Columbiadisasterrecommendedthatallfuture
spaceshuttle
missions
fly
in
orbits
that
allow
themtoreachtheInternationalSpaceStationin
case of an emergency. The orbit a shuttle
wouldneedtofollowtoserviceHubblewould
notallowtheshuttletogettothestation.
However, during a meeting with agency
employees at NASAs Goddard Space Flight
Center onOct. 31, 2006,NASAAdministrator
MichaelGriffinannouncedtherewouldindeed
beafifthandfinalservicingmissiontoHubble.
Inmakingtheannouncement,Griffinsaid,Wehave conducted a detailed analysis of the
performanceandproceduresnecessarytocarry
outasuccessfulHubblerepairmissionoverthe
courseofthe lastthreeshuttlemissions. What
wehave learnedhasconvincedus thatweare
able to conduct a safe and effective servicing
mission toHubble. While there isan inherent
risk in all spaceflight activities, the desire to
preserve a truly international asset like the
HubbleSpace
Telescope
makes
doing
this
missiontherightcourseofaction.
Previous Servicing Missions
The STS125/HSTSM4mission was originally
planned for an Oct. 14, 2008 launch. Space
shuttle Atlantis and her 22,000 pounds of
Hubble cargowere in the finaldaysof launch
preparations,whentheAsideoftheScience
Instrument Command and Data Handling
(SIC&DH)
system
suffered
apermanent
electronic failure on Sept. 27, 2008. The
SIC&DH provides all of the electronics to
command Hubbles science instruments from
thegroundandtoflowscienceandengineering
databacktotheground. Becausethissystemis
such a critical part of Hubbles science
capability,themissionwaspostponed inorder
toallowengineersenough time toprepare the
spareSIC&DH for inclusion into theservicing
mission.Meanwhile,
in
order
to
restore
science
operations to the orbiting telescope, flight
controllersonthegroundsuccessfullyswitched
totheBsideoftheSIC&DHelectronicsand
several additional spacecraft data system
modules.
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MAY 2009 HST HISTORY 19
Servicing Mission 1, December 1993: The
primary goal of Servicing Mission 1 was to
restore Hubbles vision. Because Hubbles
primary
mirror
was
incorrectly
shaped,
the
telescope could not focus all the light from
an object to a single sharp point. Instead, it
saw a fuzzy halo around objects it observed.
Astronauts on space shuttle Endeavours
STS61 mission spent five days tuning it up.
They installed two new devices the Wide
Field and Planetary Camera 2 and the
Corrective Optics Space Telescope Axial
Replacement to compensate for the primary
mirrors incorrect shape. Astronauts also
installed new solar arrays, to reduce thejitter
causedbyexcessive flexingof thesolarpanels
during the telescopes orbital transition from
cold darkness into warm daylight, and new
gyroscopes to help point and track the
telescope,alongwith fuseplugsandelectronic
units.
Servicing Mission 2, February 1997: During
the10daymission (STS82),astronautsaboard
thespace
shuttle
Discovery
installed
two
technologically advanced instruments. The
Near Infrared Camera and MultiObject
Spectrometer (NICMOS) enabled Hubble to
observe infrared wavelengths, crucial for
viewingverydistant optical sources thathave
lostenergy travelingacrossmostof thevisible
universeandnowradiate inthe infraredband.
The second instrument, the Space Telescope
Imaging Spectrograph (STIS), could take
detailed pictures of celestial objects and hunt
for black holes. Both instruments featured
technology that wasnt available when
scientists designed and built the original
Hubble instruments in the late 1970s.
Astronauts also installed a refurbished Fine
Guidance Sensor, one of three essential
instrumentsused tokeepHubblesteadywhile
viewing objects and to calculate celestial
distances;aSolidStateRecordertoreplaceone
ofHubblesdata recorders; and a refurbished,
spare
Reaction
Wheel
Assembly,
part
of
the
PointingControlSubsystem.
ServicingMission3A,December1999: NASA
decidedtosplitthethirdservicingmissioninto
twoparts,SM3A andSM3B, after the thirdof
Hubbles six gyroscopes failed. Hubble
normally needs three gyroscopes to observe a
target. Astronauts aboard space shuttle
Discovery(STS103)replacedallsixgyroscopes,
aswellasoneofHubbles three fineguidance
sensorsthat
are
used
to
keep
Hubble
steady
while viewing objects. The astronauts also
installed a transmitter, an advanced central
computer,adigitaldatarecorder,anelectronics
enhancementkit,batteryimprovementkitsand
newouterlayersofthermalprotection. Shortly
beforethe3Amission,Hubblewasplaced into
safemode after a fourth gyroscope failed
unexpectedly. InsafemodeHubbleisinasort
of protective hibernation and cannot observe
objects.
ServicingMission3B,March2002: Astronauts
aboard space shuttle Columbia (STS109)
installed several new instruments on Hubble
that vastly improved the observatorys
capability. Astronauts performed five
spacewalks. Theirprincipal taskwasto install
theAdvancedCameraforSurveys(ACS).With
itswidefieldofview,sharpimagequalityand
enhanced sensitivity, ACS could collect data
10times
faster
than
the
Wide
Field
and
Planetary Camera 2, the telescopes earlier
surveying instrument. The ACS brought the
then12yearoldtelescopeintothe21stcentury.
TheACSwasquicklyusedtocapturethemost
distantimageoftheuniverse,calledtheHubble
Ultra Deep Field. The 8yearold solar array
panelswere replacedwith smaller rigid ones
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20 HST HISTORY MAY 2009
that produce 30 percent more power.
Astronauts also replaced the outdated Power
ControlUnit,whichdistributeselectricityfrom
the
solar
arrays
and
batteries
to
other
parts
of
thetelescope;andtheyreplacedoneofthefour
reaction wheel assemblies that make up
Hubblespointingcontrolsystem. Anotherkey
upgradewas the installationof anew cooling
system for the Near Infrared Camera and
Multi
Object
Spectrometer
(NICMOS),
down
since 1999 after depleting its refrigerant.
Hubblesinfraredvisionwasrestored.
AstronautJamesH.Newman,missionspecialist,movesaboutinthespaceshuttleColumbias
cargobaywhileworkingintandemwithastronautMikeMassimino(outofframe),
missionspecialist,duringtheSTS109missionsseconddayofextravehicularactivity(EVA).
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MAY 2009 HST HISTORY 21
Best of Hubble Science
As the 12.5ton Earthorbiting observatory
looks into space, unburdenedby atmospheric
distortion,newdetailsaboutplanets,starsandgalaxies come into crystal clear view. The
telescope has produced a vast amount of
informationandasteadystreamofimagesthat
have astounded the worlds astronomical
community and the public as well. It has
helped confirm some astronomical theories,
challenged others and often come up with
complete surprises for which theories do not
yetexist.
Hubbleprovidesfourbasiccapabilities:
Highangularresolutiontheabilitytoimagefinedetail.
Highsensitivitytheabilitytodetectveryfaintobjects.
Ultravioletperformancetheabilitytoproduceultravioletimagesandspectra.
Infraredperformancetheabilitytoproduceinfraredimagesandspectra.
EachyeartheSpaceTelescopeScienceInstitute
(STScI)receivesapproximatelyathousandnew
observingproposals from astronomers around
theworld. Observingcyclesareroutinelyover
subscribedbyafactorofsix.
The telescope is extremely popularbecause it
allowsscientists toget theirclearestviewever
ofthe
cosmos
and
to
obtain
information
on
the
temperature,density, composition andmotion
of celestial objectsby analyzing the radiation
they emit or absorb. On average 14 scientific
papers per week, based on Hubble
observations, are published in scholarly
journals. Results of Hubble observations are
presented regularly at meetings of the
American Astronomical Society and other
majorscientificconferences.
Although Hubbles dramatic findings to date
are too numerous to be described fully, thefollowing paragraphs highlight some of the
significant astronomical discoveries and
observationsinthreebasiccategories:
Galaxiesandcosmology Formationandevolutionofstarsandplanets
EarthsSolarSystem.Forfurtherinformation,visittheSTScIWebsite
athttp://hubblesite.org/newscenter.
Galaxies and Cosmology
Deepest View Ever of the Universe Unveils
EarliestGalaxies
http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/releas
es/2004/07
In a tiny patch of sky just onetenth the
diameter of the full moon, the Hubble
SpaceTelescope revealed an estimated
10,000galaxies. Called theHubbleUltraDeep
Field (HUDF), the millionsecondlong
exposure reveals the first galaxies to emerge
fromthesocalleddarkages,thetimeshortly
afterthebigbangwhenthefirststarsreheated
the relatively cool and opaque hydrogen and
heliumgasproducedinthebigbang,makingit
transparent to light. The image offers new
insightsinto
what
types
of
objects
reheated
the
universe long ago leading ultimately to the
universeasseentoday.
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22 HST HISTORY MAY 2009
Thesharpest
image
ever
taken
of
the
large
grand
design
spiral
galaxy
M81
released
at
the
AmericanAstronomicalSocietyMeetinginHonolulu,Hawaii. Thisbeautifulgalaxyistiltedat
anobliqueangleontoourlineofsight,givingabirdseyeviewofthespiralstructure.
Thehistoricview isactually two separate sets
ofimagestakenbyHubblesAdvancedCamera
for Surveys (ACS) and the Near Infrared
Camera and Multiobject Spectrometer
(NICMOS) and stacked together to form a
single
extremely
deep
time
exposure.
The
resulting composite image, theHUDF, reveals
galaxiesthataretoofainttobeseenbyground
based telescopes,oreven inHubblesprevious
faraway looks, called theHubbleDeep Fields
(HDFs), taken in 1995 and 1998. In ground
based images, the patch of sky in which the
galaxiesresideislargelyempty. Locatedinthe
constellation Fornax, the region is below the
constellationOrion.
ThecombinationofACSandNICMOS images
hasbeenusedtosearchfordevelopinggalaxies
thatwere formedwithin the firstbillionyears
afterthe
big
bang,
which
occurred
13.7
billion
yearsago. Todate,morethan500objectshave
been detected in the HUDF that emitted the
light we see withHubble when the universe
waslessthanonebillionyearsold(ataredshift
of6orgreater.). At leastonegalaxyhasbeen
detected at a redshift of 7.4. Light from this
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MAY 2009 HST HISTORY 23
object started its journey toward us some
700millionyearsafter thebigbang,when the
universewasfivepercentofitscurrentage. A
key
question
for
HUDF
astronomers
is
in
what
respectstheuniverseappeareddifferentatthis
very early time,when star formationhadjust
begun, than it did when the cosmos was
betweenoneandtwobillionyearsold,atwhich
time the rateof star formation in theuniverse
haddroppedtoaverylowvalue.
HUDF observationsbegan Sept. 24, 2003, and
continued through Jan. 16, 2004. The ACS,
which is the size of a phonebooth, captured
ancientphotons
of
light
that
began
traversing
theuniverseevenbeforeEarthexisted. Photons
oflightfromtheveryfaintestobjectsarrivedat
a trickle of onephoton perminute, compared
with millions of photons per minute from
nearergalaxies.
Evolution of Stars and Planets
LightEchofromEruptingStar
http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/releas
es/star/2004/10/
In January 2002, a dull star in an obscure
constellation suddenly became 600,000 times
more luminous than our sun, temporarily
makingitoneofthebrighteststarsinourMilky
Waygalaxy.
Themysterious starhas long since fadedback
to obscurity, but Hubble observations of a
phenomenon called a light echo have
uncoveredremarkable
new
features.
These
detailshaveprovidedastronomersaCATscan
likeprobeofthethreedimensionalstructureof
shellsofdustsurroundinganagingstar.
Astronomers used the Hubble images to
determine that the illtempered star, called
V838 Monocerotis (V838 Mon), is about
20,000lightyearsfromEarth. Thestarputsout
enough energy in a brief flash to illuminate
surroundingdust. Thestarpresumablyejected
the
illuminated
dust
shells
in
previous
outbursts. Lightfromthelatestoutbursttravels
to the dust and then is reflected to Earth.
Becauseofthisindirectpath,thelightarrivesat
Earthmonthsafterlightcomingdirectlytoward
Earthfromthestaritself.
The outburst of V838 Mon was somewhat
similartothatofanova,amorecommonstellar
outburst. A typicalnova isanormal star that
dumpshydrogenonto a compactwhitedwarf
companionstar.
The
hydrogen
piles
up
until
it
spontaneouslyexplodesbynuclearfusionlike
a titanic hydrogen bomb. This exposes a
searingstellarcore,whichhasatemperatureof
hundredsofthousandsofdegreesFahrenheit.
Bycontrast,however,V838Monevidentlydid
not expel its outer layers. Instead, it grew
enormously in size, with its surface
temperature dropping to temperatures not
much hotter than a light bulb and its color
becoming extremely red. This behavior of
ballooningtoanimmensesizebutnotlosingits
outer layers is very unusual and completely
unlikeanordinarynovaexplosion.
V838 Mon is so unique it may represent a
transitory stage in a stars evolution that is
rarely seen. The star has some similarities to
highly unstable aging stars called eruptive
variables, which suddenly and unpredictably
increasein
brightness.
The circular lightecho feature now has
expandedtotwicetheangularsizeofJupiteron
the sky. Astronomers expect that it will
continue expanding as reflected light from
fartherout in thedustenvelope finallyarrives
atEarth.
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24 HST HISTORY MAY 2009
Earths Solar System
HubbleLooksforPossibleMoonResources
http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/releas
es/2005/29
WhenAmericansreturntothemoon,theywill
havetheHubbleSpaceTelescopetothankfora
new class of scientific observations of Earths
nearestcelestialneighbor.
Hubbles resolution and sensitivity to
ultraviolet light have allowed it to search for
important oxygenbearing minerals on the
moon. Since the moon does not have a
breathable atmosphere, minerals such as
ilmenite (titanium and iron oxide) may be
critical for a sustained human lunar presence.
Ilmenite is a potential source of oxygen for
breathingorpoweringrockets.
The new Hubble observations are the first
highresolution, ultraviolet images ever
acquired of the moon. The images provide
scientists with a new tool to study mineral
variationswithin
the
lunar
crust.
Such
data,
in
combination with other measurements, will
helpensurethemostvaluablesitesaretargeted
forfutureroboticandhumanmissions.
In 2005, Hubbles Advanced Camera for
Surveys captured ultraviolet and visible light
imagesofknowngeologicallydiverseareason
the side of the moon nearest Earth. These
included theAristarchus impactcraterand the
adjacent Schroters Valley, which neither
humansnor
robotic
spacecraft
have
visited.
Hubble also photographed theApollo 15 and
17 landing sites, where astronauts collected
rockandsoilsamplesin1971and1972.
Scientists are comparing the properties of the
rock and soil samples from the Apollo sites
with thenewHubble images. The telescopes
observations of Aristarchus crater and
Schroters Valley will help refine researchers
understanding of the diverse, scientifically
interesting
materials
in
the
region
and
unravel
theirfullresourcepotential.
Summary
AstronautsSteven
L.
Smith,
and
JohnGrunsfeldappearassmallfiguresinthis
widescenephotographedduring
extravehicularactivityduringSTS103in1999.
The Hubble Space Telescope has established
itself as a premier astronomical observatory
that continues tomake dramatic observations
anddiscoveries at the forefront of astronomy.
Amongalonglistofachievements:
Hubblesabilitytodetectfaintsupernovaecontributedtothediscoverythatthe
expansionrateoftheuniverseis
accelerating,indicatingtheexistenceof
mysteriousdarkenergyinspace.
ObservationsofCepheidvariablestarsinnearbygalaxieswereusedtoestablishthe
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MAY 2009 HST HISTORY 25
currentexpansionrateoftheuniverseto
betterthan10percentaccuracy.
TheHubbleUltraDeepFieldprovidedourdeepestviewyetintotheuniversesdistantpast,allowingustoreconstructhow
galaxiesevolveandgrowbyswallowing
othergalaxies.
Hubbleprovidedthefirstdirectmeasurementsofthethreedimensional
distributionofDarkMatterinspace.
PeeringintonearbyregionsofstarbirthintheMilkyWaygalaxy,Hubblehasrevealed
flatteneddisksofgasanddustthatarethe
likelybirthplacesofnewplanets.
Whensunlikestarsendtheirlives,theyejectspectacularnebulae.Hubblehas
revealedfantasticandenigmaticdetailsof
thisprocess
HubblemadedetailedmeasurementsofaJupitersizedplanetorbitinganearbystar,
includingthefirstdetectionofthe
atmosphereofanextrasolarplanet.
TheexplosivecollisionofcometShomakerLevy/9withJupitergave
Earthlingsacautionarytaleofthedanger
posed
by
cometary
impacts.
Hubbleobservationshaveshownthatmonsterblackholes,withmassesmillions
tobillionstimesthemassofoursun,inhabit
thecentersofmostgalaxies
Hubbleplayedakeyroleindeterminingthedistancesandenergiesofgammaray
bursts,showingthattheyarethemost
powerfulexplosionsintheuniverseother
thanthe
big
bang
itself.
After Servicing Mission 4, the telescope will
view theuniversewith significantly expanded
scientificcapabilities from thenewWideField
Camera 3 and the new Cosmic Origins
Spectrograph, as well as the reactivated
Advanced Camera for Surveys and Space
Telescope Imaging Spectrograph. These
additions and the upgrades to Hubbles
operating hardware hold the promise of
momentousdiscoveries
in
the
years
ahead.
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MAY 2009 FLIGHT CONTROL 27
FLIGHT CONTROL
KEY CONSOLE POSITIONS FOR STS-125
Flt.Director CAPCOM PAOAscent NormKnight Greg(Box)Johnson
TBD(Wx)
KyleHerring
Orbit1(Lead) TonyCeccacci DanBurbank KyleHerring(Lead)
Orbit2 RickLaBrode AlanPoindexter PatRyanPlanning PaulDye JaniceVoss JoshByerlyEntry NormKnight Greg(Box)Johnson
TBD(Wx)
KyleHerring
ShuttleTeam4 BryanLunney N/A N/A
JSCPAORepresentativeatKSCforLaunchKylieClemKSCLaunchCommentatorGeorgeDillerKSCLaunchDirectorMikeLeinbachNASALaunchTestDirectorCharlieBlackwellThompson
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28 FLIGHT CONTROL MAY 2009
KEY CONSOLE POSITIONS FOR STS-400
Flt.Director CAPCOM PAOAscent NormKnight Greg(Box)Johnson
TBD(Wx)
KyleHerring
Orbit1(Lead) PaulDye SteveRobinson KyleHerring(Lead)
Orbit2 MikeSarafin Greg(Box)Johnson PatRyanPlanning RichardJones JaniceVoss JoshByerly
Entry
Norm
Knight
Greg
(Box)
Johnson
TBD(Wx) Kyle
Herring
ShuttleTeam4 BryanLunney N/A N/A
JSCPAORepresentativeatKSCforLaunchTBDKSCLaunchCommentatorGeorgeDillerKSCLaunchDirectorMikeLeinbachNASALaunchTestDirectorJeffSpaulding
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MAY 2009 CREW 29
STS-125 ATLANTIS CREW
This
STS
125/SM4
crew
patch
shows
the
Hubble Space Telescope along with a
representationofitsmanyscientificdiscoveries.
The overall structure and composition of the
universe is shown in blue and filled with
planets,starsandgalaxies.
The black background is indicative of the
mysteriesofdarkenergyanddarkmatter. The
new instruments to be installed on Hubble
during thismission,WideFieldCamera3and
the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph, will makeobservations to help understand these unseen
components that seem to dominate the
structureoftheuniverse.
The
red
border
of
the
patch
represents
the
red
shiftedglowoftheearlyuniverseandthelimit
of theHubbles view into the cosmos. Upon
completionofSTS125/SM4,thefifthmissionto
serviceHubble,thetelescopewillprovideeven
deeper and more detailed views of the
universe.
Soaringby the telescope is the space shuttle,
which initially deployed Hubble and has
enabled astronauts to continuallyupgrade the
telescope, significantly contributing to theexpansionofhumanknowledge.
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30 CREW MAY 2009
ThesesevenastronautstakeabreakfromtrainingtoposefortheSTS125/SM4crewportrait.
FromtheleftareastronautsMikeMassimino,MichaelGood,bothmissionspecialists;
GregoryC.Johnson,pilot;ScottAltman,commander;MeganMcArthur,
JohnGrunsfeldandAndrewFeustel,allmissionspecialists.
Shortbiographical sketchesof the crew follow
withdetailedbackgroundavailableat:
http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/
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MAY 2009 CREW 31
STS-125 CREW BIOGRAPHIES
ScottAltman
RetiredNavyCapt.ScottAltmanwill lead the
crewof
STS
125/SM4
on
the
fifth
and
final
shuttlemissionplanned to service theHubble
SpaceTelescope. Altmanservedasthepiloton
STS90in1998andSTS106in2000. Hewasthe
commander of STS109 in 2002, the fourth
Hubble servicing mission. He has overall
responsibility for the safety and execution of
this mission, orbiter systems operations and
flightoperations,
including
landing.
He
will
fly
Atlantisthroughitsrendezvousandcaptureof
the space telescope and will fly the shuttle
during Hubbles release. Altman will be
involved in the robotic inspection ofAtlantis
heatshield.
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32 CREW MAY 2009
GregoryC.Johnson
AstronautGregoryC.Johnson,acaptaininthe
Navy reserve component,hasmore than9,000
flight hours in 50 aircraft, including over 500
carrierlandings. Hewillmakehisfirstjourney
intospaceasthepilotofAtlantisSTS125/SM4
mission. Selected by NASA in 1998, he has
worked technical aspects of shuttle launches,
landingsandintegrationfortheastronautoffice
and Space Shuttle Program. He will be
responsible fororbiter systemsoperations and
will assist Altman in the rendezvous with
Hubble. Other responsibilities include
orchestrating the photographic and video
documentationofthemission.
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MAY 2009 CREW 33
MichaelGood
AirForceCol.MichaelGoodwillbemakinghisfirstspaceflightasmissionspecialist1. Selected
asanastronautin2000,Goodhasworkedinthe
astronaut office advanced vehicles and space
shuttlebranches. To serviceHubble, he will
conductthesecondandfourthspacewalkswith
MikeMassiminoandserveasacoordinatorof
theother three. Goodalsowillbe involved inthe robotic inspection of Atlantis heat shield
and assist with range and rate information
duringrendezvousanddeploymentofHubble.
Hewillbeseatedon the flightdeck for launch
andonthemiddeckforlanding.
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34 CREW MAY 2009
MeganMcArthur
AstronautMeganMcArthurwillbemakingher
firstspaceflightasmissionspecialist2. Shehas
adoctorate in oceanography from the Scripps
Institution of Oceanography, University of
CaliforniaSan Diego. Selected in 2000,
McArthur hasworked in the astronaut office
spaceshuttlebranch,servedasacrewsupport
astronaut for Expedition 9 and worked as a
spacecraft communicator in Mission Control.
She will be responsible for the robotic arm
operations during the capture and release of
Hubble, aswellasduring the spacewalksand
Atlantisheat shield inspections. Shealsowill
serve as the flight engineer, assisting Altman
andJohnson on the flight deck during ascent
andlanding.
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MAY 2009 CREW 35
JohnGrunsfeld
AstronautJohnGrunsfeldwillbemaking his
third trip toHubble and his fifth spaceflight,
serving as mission specialist 3. He has a
doctorate in physics from the University ofChicago and has conducted research in Xray
andgammarayastronomy,highenergycosmic
ray studiesanddevelopmentofnewdetectors
and instrumentation. He performed five
spacewalks toservice the telescopeonSTS103
in1999andSTS109 in2002. Healso flewon
STS67in1995andSTS81in1997. Grunsfeldis
the payload commander on STS125/SM4,
responsibleforthetelescopessystems. Hewill
lead the team of spacewalkers on the fiveexcursions to service Hubble, conducting the
first, third and fifth spacewalkswithAndrew
Feustel. Theywillserveascoordinatorsforthe
othertwospacewalks. Grunsfeldwillbeonthe
middeckforlaunchandlanding.
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36 CREW MAY 2009
MikeMassimino
AstronautMikeMassiminowillbemakinghis
secondspaceflightandtriptotheHubbleSpace
Telescope, serving asmission specialist 4. He
hasadoctorateinmechanicalengineeringfromMassachusetts Institute of Technology. He
performed two spacewalks to service the
telescope during the STS109mission in 2002.
He is the leadofoneof the two spacewalking
teamsonSTS125/SM4, conducting the second
and fourth spacewalkswithGood. Theywill
serve as coordinators of the other three
spacewalks.Massiminoalsowillbeinvolvedin
the robotic inspection of Atlantis heat shieldand have backup robotic arm operation
responsibilities for Hubbles capture and
release. Hewillbe seatedon themiddeck for
launchandtheflightdeckforlanding.
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MAY 2009 CREW 37
AndrewFeustel
AstronautAndrewFeustelwillbemakinghis
first
trip
into
space,
serving
as
mission
special
ist5. Hehasadoctorateingeologicalsciences
from Queens University. Selected as an
astronaut in2000,hehasworked in theastro
naut office space shuttle and space station
branches. On STS125/SM4, Feustel will per
form the first, third and fifth spacewalkswith
Grunsfeld. Theywillserveascoordinatorsfor
the
other
two
spacewalks.
Feustel
also
will
assistwith range and rate informationduring
rendezvousanddeploymentofHubbleandbe
responsible for Atlantis onboard computing
network throughout the flight. Feustelwillbe
onthemiddeckforlaunchandlanding.
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MAY 2009 PAYLOAD OVERVIEW 39
PAYLOAD OVERVIEW
HUBBLE SERVICING MISSIONPAYLOAD BAY HARDWARE
Therewillbe four support structures flying in
Atlantiss cargo bay that will carry the
scienceinstruments, flight hardware, support
equipment and tools to be used during the
mission.
FlightSupportSystem(FSS) SuperLightweightInterchangeableCarrier(SLIC)
MultiUseLightweightEquipment(MULE)Carrier
OrbitalReplacementUnitCarrier(ORUC)FLIGHT SUPPORT SYSTEM (FSS)
The Flight Support System (FSS) is a reusable
equipmentsystem
that
provides
the
structural,
mechanical,andelectrical interfacesbetweena
spacecraftand theorbiter for launch,retrieval,
and inorbit servicingmissions. Italso served
asthemaintenanceplatformholdingHubblein
place while providing a means for rotation
about two axes for correct positioning during
deploymentandinorbitservicing.
The FSS configuration for spacecraft
deployment or retrieval consists of three
structural cradles, mechanisms for spacecraftretention and positioning, and avionics. The
cradles provide the structural support for the
payload and storage locations for tools and
electronics. Themechanisms forretentionand
positioningallowthespacecrafttobedockedto
the FSS, serviced, and released. The FSS
provides the electrical interface between the
orbiterandtheHubble,andbetweentheorbiter
and the servicing mission payload elements.
The avionics provide all necessary power,
command, control, and data monitoring
interfaces to supportoperationalmodesof the
spacecraft. The avionics also provide for
remotecontrolofallFSSmechanismsfromthe
orbiter aft flight deck. The configuration for
inorbit servicing typically consists of one
cradle with Berthing and Positioning System,
mechanisms,andavionics.
The FSS has a specific configuration for
servicing the Hubble Space Telescope. The
Hubble servicing configuration consists of a
single cradle, avionics, mechanisms, and the
BerthingandPositioningSystem(BAPS). Once
HubbleisberthedtotheFSS,theBAPSisused
toorient theHubble for servicingand to react
to loads induced by reboosting Hubble to a
higher orbit. The avionics and mechanisms
used forHubble servicing are a subset of the
full complement available, with additional
powercapability.
SOFT CAPTURE AND RENDEZVOUS
SYSTEM (SCRS)
Preparing for the Future
When theHubbleSpaceTelescope reaches the
end of its life, NASA will need to deorbit
itsafely using a nextgeneration space
transportationvehicle.
Originally planned for Earth return on the
shuttle,Hubblesscientificlifewillnowextend
beyond the planned retirement date of the
shuttlein2010. AspartofServicingMission4,
engineershavedevelopedtheSoftCaptureand.
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40 PAYLOAD OVERVIEW MAY 2009
Rendezvous System, or SCRS, which will
enablethefuturerendezvous,capture,andsafe
disposal of Hubble by either a crewed or
roboticmission.
The
SCRS
greatly
increases
the
current shuttle capture envelop interfaces on
Hubble, therefore significantly reducing the
rendezvous and capture design complexities
associatedwiththedisposalmission.
The SCRS is comprised of the Soft Capture
Mechanism (SCM) system and the Relative
NavigationSystem(RNS).
The Soft Capture Mechanism
TheSoftCaptureMechanism(SCM)willlaunch
on a turntable likepiece of equipment called
the Flight Support System (FSS) within the
cargobayoftheshuttle. TheFSSservesasthe
berthingplatform forHubbleandprovidesall
electricaland
mechanical
interfaces
between
the
shuttle and the telescope while Hubble is
docked.
The SCMuses aLow ImpactDocking System
(LIDS) interface and associated relative
navigation targets for future rendezvous,
capture,anddockingoperations. Thesystems
LIDS interface is designed to be compatible
with the rendezvous and docking systems to
beused on the nextgeneration space
transportationvehicle
TheSoftCaptureMechanismisreadiedforSTS125atGoddardSpaceFlightCenter.
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MAY 2009 PAYLOAD OVERVIEW 41
During themission, astronautswill attach the
SCM toHubble. About72 inches indiameter
and2feethigh,theSCMwillsitonthebottom
ofHubble,
inside
the
FSS
berthing
and
positioning ring,without affecting the normal
FSStoHubble interfaces. It will be attached
onto the telescope by three sets of jaws that
clamp onto the existing berthing pins on
Hubblesaftbulkhead.
The astronauts will drive a gearbox, and the
jaws will release the SCM from the FSS and
clamp ontoHubblesberthingpins. It canbe
transferred toHubble at any time during the
mission.
The Relative Navigation System
The Relative Navigation System (RNS) is an
imaging system consisting of optical and
navigationsensorsandsupportingavionics. It
willcollectdataonHubbleduringcaptureand
deployment.
The RNS system will acquire valuable
informationabout
Hubble
by
way
of
images
andvideoofthetelescopesaftbulkheadasthe
shuttlereleasesitbackintospace.
This informationwill enableNASA topursue
numerous options for the safe deorbit of
Hubble.
TheRNS systemwillbe carried on theMulti
Use Lightweight Equipment (MULE) carrier
aboardtheshuttle.
SUPER LIGHTWEIGHT
INTERCHANGEABLE CARRIER (SLIC)
A New Kind of Equipment Carrier
EachtimeastronautsupgradetheHubbleSpace
Telescope, the new equipment rides to orbit
on specialized pallets called carriers. The
composite Super Lightweight Interchangeable
Carrier (SLIC) is a new breed of equipment
carrier that will allow the space shuttle to
transportafull
complement
of
scientific
instrumentsandothercomponentstoHubble.
Carriers transport Hubbles new cargo in the
space shuttles payload bay, protecting the
cargo from the stressof launchand the trip to
orbit. They also serve as temporary parking
placesforhardwareduringspacewalks.
Once the mission is complete and the new
hardwarehasbeeninstalledonHubble,carriers
providestorage
space
and
protection
for
the
old
equipmentsjourneybacktoEarth.
These large carriers,which span thewidth of
the shuttles payload bay, add thousands of
pounds to theweightof theshuttle. Since the
fully loaded shuttle cannot exceed a specified
maximumweight limit,everypound trimmed
from a carrier is onemorepound that canbe
used for additional payload, e.g., science
instrumentsorfuelformaneuveringorreboost.
Trimming Pounds, Gaining Strength
AnticipatingthatServicingMission4willneed
to carry a full load of instruments and
equipment to orbit, in addition to equipment
that will be needed to inspect the shuttles
thermal protection system (TPS), the Hubble
SpaceTelescopeteambuiltSLICusingstateof
theart, lightweight compositematerials and a
more structurally efficient design. Engineers
dramatically increased performance and loadcarryingcapabilitywhilesignificantlyreducing
weight. Comparedtoaluminumandtitanium,
which aremetals typically used in spacecraft
and launch vehicle design, the composites
used to build SLIC have greater strengthto
mass ratios. SLIC features other attractive
performance characteristics such as fatigue
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42 PAYLOAD OVERVIEW MAY 2009
resistance,whichmeansitislesssusceptibleto
wearandtear.
Madeofcarbonfiberwithacyanateesterresin
andatitaniummetalmatrixcomposite,SLICis
the first allcomposite carrier to fly on the
shuttle. This flat, reusable pallet looks very
different from the carriers flown on previous
Hubble servicing missions because of its
efficient design. This design plus SLICs
composite constructionmakes itmuch lighter
and stronger than traditional aluminum
carriers. About half the weight of its
predecessors, SLIC shows a dramatic increase
in performance over otherHubble equipmentcarriers, with nearly double the carrying
capability.
Weighing in at just 1,750 pounds, SLIC will
carryHubbles newest camera, the 980pound
WideFieldCamera3,whichwillridetoorbitin
a 650pound protective enclosure. SLIC also
will carry two new batteries, each weighing
460pounds.
Benchmark for Technology
As thepathfinder for theuseofcomposites in
human spaceflight, SLIC has established the
benchmark for technology required for future
spacemissions, includinganalysis, testingand
verification.
Following in the footsteps of SLICs
development, future human and robotic
explorationmissionswillbenefit from theuse
ofcompositematerials. EngineersforprogramssuchastheOrionCrewExplorationVehicleare
currently in discussions with Goddard
engineers to learn how they succeeded with
SLICsothey,too,canconstructstronger,more
efficientcompositesindecadestocome.
SLIC Capabilities and Characteristics
Structureweight: 1,750pounds Loadcapability: 5,500pounds HubbleServicingMissionpayloadweight:3,700pounds
Performance(LoadCapability/Weight): 3.14 Size: 180 x104 Structurallyinterchangeable:Wingscanbeaddedtoincreasedecksize
Honeycombsurfacecanaccommodatevariouspayloadsusingpostbondedinserts
CompatiblewithallHubblecarrieravionicsORBITAL REPLACEMENT UNIT CARRIER
TheORUCiscenteredinAtlantispayloadbay.
ItprovidessafetransportofORUstoandfrom
orbit.
The
Cosmic
Origins
Spectrograph
(COS)
is
storedintheAxialScientificInstrument
ProtectiveEnclosure(ASIPE).
TheFineGuidanceSensor(FGS)isstoredintheRadialScientificInstrumentProtective
Enclosure(FSIPE).
ThreeRateSensorUnits(RSU)arestoredonthestarboardsideSmallORUProtective
Enclosure(SOPE).
TheORUChousesotherhardware,includingtheFineGuidanceSensor(FGS)
andWF/PCHandholdstoredontheport
sideForwardFixture,anAftFixture,
ScientificInstrumentSafetyBar,MLIRepair
Tool,twoSTSPFRsandanExtender,two
TranslationAids(TA)andSTISMEB
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MAY 2009 PAYLOAD OVERVIEW 43
replacementcover. Italsocarriestwo
AuxiliaryTransportModules(ATM),a
LargeORUProtectiveEnclosure(LOPE),a
NewORU
Protective
Enclosure
(NOPE)
andFastenerCapturePlate(FCP)enclosure
tohousemiscellaneousCATsfortheSTIS
andACSrepairwork.
The protective enclosure, its heaters and
thermal insulation control the temperature of
thenewORUs,providinganenvironmentwith
normaloperatingtemperatures. Strutsbetween
the ASIPE enclosure and the pallet protect
science instruments from loads generated at
liftoffandduringEarthreturn.
Alsoon theORUCwillbean IMAX3DCargo
BayCamera.
IMAX Hubble 3D Movie
Hubble3D(workingtitle),fromtheSpaceStation
3Dfilmmakingteam,tellsthestoryofthemost
important, scientific instrument since Galileo,
and the greatest success in space sincethe
MoonLanding:
the
Hubble
Space
Telescope.
Hubble has revealed our universe to us as
neverbefore. WithHubblesamazingtreasure
trove of imagerybrought to life in IMAX 3D,
audiencesofallageswillbeabletoexplorethe
grandeurofgalaxies,nebulae,birthanddeath
ofstars,andthecuriositiesandmysteriesofour
celestialsurroundingsasneverbefore. Withits
dramatic story of endeavor, near catastrophic
failure, and ultimate rescue, Hubble 3D will
provide a unique legacy for generations tocome,allinamazingIMAX3D.
Hubble 3Dmarks the fifth time the IMAX 3D
Cargo Bay Camera has flown aboard the
spaceshuttle. The IMAX teamhas trained the
missions commander and pilot on the
operation of the camera,which ismounted in
theoptimumpositionintheshuttlescargobay
to capture stunning IMAX 3D images of
the historic final servicing mission. The
commanderand
pilot
will
double
as
filmmakers as two teams of spacewalking
astronauts, working in tandem with the
shuttlesrobotarm,perform themostcomplex
andchallengingworkeverundertakeninspace
as they replace and refurbish many of the
telescopesdelicateprecisioninstruments.
The Hubble 3D movie will be in IMAX and
IMAX 3D theaters worldwide beginning
spring2010.
MULTI-USE LIGHTWEIGHT EQUIPMENT
CARRIER
TheMULE is located inAtlantis aft payload
bay. It has provisions for safe transport of
ORUstoorbit:
TheContingencyORUProtectiveEnclosure(COPE)containsthespareORUsandtools.
TheMULEIntegratedNOBLContainer(MINC)containsthenewNOBLprotectivecoveringstobeinstalledontheTelescope
SupportSystemsModuleEquipment
Section(SSMES)baydoors.
TheMULEalsocarriesotherhardwareincludingeightAftShroudLatchRepair
KitsandLowGainAntennaProtective
Covers(LGAPC).
ThereplacementSIC&DHwillridetoorbitontheMULE. Theunitisacollectionof
14components,arrangedinsixstacksthat
aremountedonatraytocreateasingle
OrbitalReplacementUnit(ORU).
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THE THREE RS OF STS-125
All of the payloads, tools and work on the
telescope
that
will
take
place
during
STS
125
canbethoughtofasfalling intoanewversion
of theThreeRs rule. But instead ofReading,
(w)Riting and (a)Rithmithic., the STS125
versioninvolves:
RefurbishHardwareandactivitiesthatwillextendHubblesoperatinglifeby
installingnewBatteryModuleUnits
(BMUs),newRateSensorUnits(RSUs),
NewOuterBlanketLayer(NOBL)material
andan
upgraded
Fine
Guidance
Sensor(FGS).
RestoreTheastronautswillmakerepairstotwoscienceinstrumentsthathave
stoppedworkingAdvancedCamerafor
Surveys(ACS)andtheSpaceTelescope
ImagingSpectrograph(STIS).
RenewTwobrandnewscienceinstrumentsWideFieldCamera3
(WFC3)
and
the
Cosmic
Origins
Spectrograph(COS)willbeinstalled.
REFURBISH ACTIVITIES
RATE SENSOR UNITS (RSUS)
During Servicing Mission 4, astronauts will
replace all six ofHubbles gyroscopes,which
areneededtopointthespacecraft. Gyroscopes,
orgyros,measureratesofmotionwhenHubble
ischanging
its
pointing
from
one
target
(a
star
or planet, for example) to another, and they
help control the telescopes pointing while
scientistsareobservingtargets.
Each gyro is packaged in a Rate Sensor
assembly. The assembliesarepacked inpairs
insideboxescalledRateSensorUnits(RSUs). It
is the RSU that astronauts changewhen they
replacegyros,sogyrosarealwaysreplacedtwo
atatime.
Previously, Hubble needed three of thesix gyros to conduct science, and the other
three functioned as spares. However, after
substantial changes to Hubbles pointing
control algorithms, only two gyros are now
needed.
How Gyros Work
Gyros are used to maintain orientation and
provide stability in boats, aircraft and
spacecraft. Theyworkbyascientificprinciple
called the gyroscopic effect. You candemonstrate this effect by holding a bicycle
wheelby its axle and asking someone to spin
thewheel. Ifyou try tomove the axle of the
spinningwheel,youwill feela forceopposing
yourattempttomoveit. Thisforceissimilarto
the one produced in the gyros when Hubble
moves.
Thegyroscopic
function
is
achieved
by
awheel
insideeachgyrothatspinsataconstantrateof
19,200 rpm on gas bearings. This wheel is
mountedinasealedcylinder,whichfloatsina
thickfluid. Electricityiscarriedtothemotorby
thinwires (approximately thesizeofahuman
hair)thatareimmersedinthefluid. Electronics
withinthegyrodetectverysmallmovementsof
the axis of the wheel and communicate this
informationtoHubblescentralcomputer.
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MAY 2009 PAYLOAD OVERVIEW 45
TheSTS125crewreceivesanoverviewongyrosandtheirroleonthe
HubbleSpaceTelescope.
The Best Gyros in the World
Several different types of gyros are available,
such as the mechanical gyro that uses ball
bearings insteadofgas. Othergyrosuse light
orthefrequencyofaresonatinghemisphereto
detectmovement. Whileallthesemethodscan
provide information on themovement of the
telescope, only gasbearing gyros offer
extremely low noise with very high stability
andresolution. Gasbearinggyrosarethemost
accurate
in
the
world,
and
Hubble
uses
the
best
gasbearinggyrosavailable.
Hubbles gyros are extraordinarily stable and
can detect extremely smallmovements of the
telescope. Whenusedwithotherfinepointing
devices, theykeep the telescopepointingvery
precisely for long periods of time, enabling
Hubble to produce spectacular images of
galaxies,planetsand starsand toprobe to the
farthestreachesoftheuniverse.
The Status of Hubbles Gyros
Gyros have limited lifetimes and need to be
replaced periodically. Currently, three of the
sixgyrosareworking.
In 2005 Hubble began operating in twogyro
mode. Withtwouseablesparegyros,Hubbles
operating life can be extended and thus
Hubbles science observations can continueuninterrupteduntiltheservicingmission.
History of Gyro Replacement
Four new gyros were installed on Hubble in
1993 and all six gyroswere replaced in 1999.
During the servicing mission in 2009,
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astronautswill replaceallsixgyros,whichare
nearingtheendoftheirprojectedusefullife.
BATTERY MODULE UNITS (BMUS)
Powering Hubble
When astronauts return to the Hubble Space
Telescope during the servicing mission, they
willreplaceallsixofthetelescopes125pound
nickel hydrogen batteries. These batteries
provide all the electrical power to support
Hubbleoperationsduring thenightportionof
itsorbit.
The telescopes orbit is approximately
96minuteslong,about60minutesofwhichare
in sunlight and 36minutes are in the Earths
shadow (night). DuringHubbles sunlight or
daytimeperiod,thesolararraysprovidepower
totheonboardelectricalequipment. Theyalso
charge the spacecrafts batteries, so that the
batteries can power the spacecraft during
Hubblesnight.
Allsix
batteries
are
normally
used
at
the
same
time. Like the ones they replace, the sixnew
batteries reside in two modules, each
containingthreebatteries. Eachmoduleweighs
460 pounds and measures 36 inches long,
32incheswide,and11incheshigh. Astronauts
will remove the old battery modules from
equipment bays No. 2 and No. 3, and will
installthenewmodulesinthesamelocations.
Each of the sixbatteriesbegins its life on the
ground with approximately 88 amphrs ofcapacity. Eachbattery contains 22 individual
cells wired together in series. Due to
limitationsofHubblesthermalcontrolsystem,
thebatteriescanonlybechargedto75amphrs
when installed on Hubble. The six new
batteries will begin their life in orbit by
delivering a total of over 450 amphrs of
capacitytoHubble.
Durable and Reliable
Now19years into itsmission,Hubblesnickel
hydrogen batteries have lasted more than
13years longer than theirdesign orbital life
longer than those in any other spacecraft
located in lowEarth orbit. Thiswaspossible
partlybecause thebatterieswerebuilt tovery
exacting standards using an extremely robust
design. Nickel hydrogenbattery chemistry is
very stable and is known to exceed inorbit
performancerequirements
for
long
duration
missions.
Another reason for thebatteries longevity is
thattheyareverycarefullymanagedonadaily
basisby Electrical Power System engineers at
Goddard Space Flight Center, which has
resulted in improved longterm inorbit
performance. This is done by closely
monitoring the amount of current that flows
intothebatteriesand their temperatureduring
eachchargingcycle. Duetoagingandcycling,the batteries are showing a slow loss in
capacity, anormal and expected trend. Ifnot
replaced, they will eventually be unable to
supportHubblessciencemission.
The replacementbatteries are superior to the
oldonesinseveralways. Thenewbatteriesare
made using a wet slurry process, inwhich
powdered metallic materials mixed in a wet
binderagentarepouredintoamoldandheated
untiltheliquidboilsoff,leavingaporoussolid.
This process produces batteries which are
physicallystrongerandbetterperformingthan
the dry sinter batteries they are replacing.
Metallicmaterials aremixed dry and pressed
into amold under high pressure in the dry
sinter manufacturing process. Each new
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prechosen guide stars, feeding the position
signals to the main Hubble computer where
smallbut inevitable drifts in the gyro signals
canbe
corrected.
The
end
result
is
arock
steadytelescopewhichcantakefulladvantage
of its optics and instrumentation to perform
worldclass science on the full gamut of
astronomical targets. Typically, twoFGSs are
used,eachonelockedontooneguidestar.
FindGuidanceSensor(FGS)
There is more to the FGS story than just
pointingcontrol. ThethirdFGScanbeusedas
a scientific instrument for astrometry the
precise measurement of stellar positions and
motions. TheFGSchosentobetheastrometer
FGS is the one which has the best
performance. Currently, that role is filledby
FGS1,and
itwill
not
be
changed
out
during
the
servicingmission. ThenewFGSwill take the
placeofFGS2andthelikelihoodisthatthenew
FGSwillbecomethenewastrometer.
Pointing Control How Good?
ThepointingrequirementforHubbleisthatthe
stability of the telescope the socalled
jitterbe no worse than 0.007 arcsecond
(arcsec for short) for 95 percent of the time.
Whatis
an
arcsec?
One
arcsecond
is
the
angle created by the diameter of a dime
(3/4 inch) at a distance of approximately
2.5miles(4km). Forexample,thediameterof
the moon as seen from Earth is roughly
1800 arcseconds. After the FGSs lock onto
guide stars, they can measure any apparent
motion to an accuracy of 0.0028 arcsec.
CombinationoftheFGSandgyrosignalsinthe
pointing control software gives Hubble the
ability to remain pointed at targets with no
more than 0.007 arcsec ofdeviation over long
periods of time. This level of stability and
precisioniscomparable tobeingabletoholda
laserbeamfocusedonadimethat is200miles
away (the distance fromWashington D.C. to
NewYorkCity).
Astrometry Science
Astrometry is the science that dealswith the
determinationofprecisepositionsandmotions
of stars. The FGSs canprovide starpositions
thatareabout10timesmoreprecisethanthose
observedfromagroundbasedtelescope.
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When used for astrometric science the FGSs
willletHubble:
Searchforwobblesinthemotionofnearbystarsthatcouldbeindicativeofplanetary
companions.
Determineifcertainstarsreallyaredoublestars.
Measuretheangulardiameterofstars,galaxiesandothercelestialobjects.
Refinethepositions,distancesandenergyoutputofstars.
Helpdeterminethetruedistancescalefortheuniverse.
Servicing
TheFGS thatwasreturnedonSM3Ahasbeen
refurbished and upgraded for reuse on
HubblesServicingMission4. Thisrefurbished
unit has an enhanced inorbit alignment
capabilityovertheoriginalFGSdesign.
FGSPHYSICALCHARACTERISTICS
Size 5.5x4x2feet
Weight 478pounds
Power 19Watts
NEW OUTER BLANKET LAYERS (NOBLS)
During the Hubble Space Telescope Second
Servicing Mission in 1997 and subsequent
missions,
astronauts
observed
damage
to
some
of the telescopes thermal insulation. Yearsof
exposuretotheharshenvironmentofspacehad
takena tollonHubblesprotectivemultilayer
insulation,andsomeareasweretornorbroken.
This multilayer insulation protects the
observatory from the severe and rapid
temperaturechangesitexperiencesasitmoves