Space Shuttle Discovery Serves Hubble Telescope
February 11th, 1997
February 11th, 1997
How Long Ago?
28 years, 1 month, 4 days ago
Location
Kennedy Space Center, Florida, USA
Category
Space Exploration
People
- Charles D. Gemar
- Steven Lindsey
- Nancy Currie
- Drew Feustel
- Ken Bowersox
- Mark Lee
- Michael Foale
Links & References
Tags
Space Shuttle Discovery Serves Hubble Telescope
Space Shuttle Discovery launched on a mission to service the Hubble Space Telescope, providing essential upgrades and repairs. The mission aimed to enhance the telescope's capabilities, extending its operational life and improving its scientific output. The crew successfully installed new instruments, making significant contributions to astronomy and space science.
Discovery launched on February 11, 1997.
Crew included seven astronauts for the mission.
Installed new instruments to enhance Hubble's capabilities.
Conducted five spacewalks to achieve mission objectives.
What Happened?
Space Shuttle Discovery, designated STS-82, launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on a mission dedicated to the servicing of the Hubble Space Telescope. The mission was critical as it involved upgrades and repairs that would enhance Hubble’s capabilities significantly. Discovery carried a crew of seven, including mission commander Steven Lindsey and payload commander Charles D. Gemar, along with five additional crew members. Among the key objectives was the installation of new instruments, including the Corrective Optics Space Telescope Axial Replacement (COSTAR), which was designed to correct the telescope's optics flaws caused by a spherical aberration found in the primary mirror during its launch in 1990.
The mission took place over ten days in February, during which the crew conducted five spacewalks to complete the upgrades, including replacing gyroscopes, the Fine Guidance Sensor, and numerous other scientific instruments. The meticulous efforts of the astronauts restored and enhanced Hubble's observational capabilities, allowing it to provide clearer and more reliable data for astronomers.
Following its successful servicing, the Hubble Space Telescope continued to make groundbreaking astronomical discoveries for years, including revealing information about distant galaxies, black holes, and the age of the universe. The mission not only served a practical purpose in extending Hubble’s operational life but also reinforced the importance of human spaceflight in the era of advanced space observatories.
Why Does it Matter?
The servicing mission showcased the importance of human intervention in maintaining and upgrading advanced space technology. Hubble’s discoveries have transformed our understanding of the universe. The mission demonstrated the capabilities of the Space Shuttle program and contributed significantly to the fields of astronomy and astrophysics. Its success laid the groundwork for subsequent servicing missions and inspired future space exploration efforts.
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