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Science Repair call to Hubble delayed to late Sept. or early Oct.
Science Repair call to Hubble delayed to late Sept. or early Oct. | Repair call to Hubble delayed to late Sept. or early Oct. |
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| by William Atkins | |
| Saturday, 03 May 2008 | |
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Page 2 of 2 The STS-125 mission is the only mission of the remaining space shuttle flights that is not going to the International Space Station. Featured Whitepaper
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Science DiscussionsHubble is in an altitude of about 354 miles (569 kilometers) and the International Space Station is in a lower orbit of about 218 miles (350 kilometers) above the surface of the Earth. When the crew of the STS-125 mission to Hubble lifts off from its launch pad (LC-39A) riding aboard space shuttle Atlantis, a contingency shuttle crew support (CSCS) mission, designated STS-400, will be on another launch pad (LC-39B), inside space shuttle Endeavour, in case a rescue mission needs to be launched. A space shuttle crew can only remain in space a maximum of about 23 days. The seven-member STS-125 crew for the repair of Hubble consists of: commander Scott D. Altman, pilot Gregory C. Jonhson, and mission specialists John M.Grunsfeld, K. Megan McArthur, Michael J. Massimino, Andrew J. Feustel, and Michael T. Good. The four-member STS-400 crew for the CSCS mission is not announced at this time. If Atlantis is so damaged in space that it is deemed unsafe to return to Earth with its crew, the Atlantis crew will be transferred to the space shuttle Endeavour, what is called a shuttle-to-shuttle rescue mission. The two shuttles would be connected through their remote manipulator systems (RMSs). A tether would then be connected between the two shuttles’ airlocks. And, the astronauts in the damaged shuttle would be transferred, via three spacewalks, from Atlantis to Endeavour for their trip back home. A more detailed explanation of the rescue procedure is provided at the NASASpaceFlight.com website "STS-400 - NASA draws up their Hubble rescue plans." After this transfer of astronauts has taken place, the possibility exists that Atlantis would be de-orbited from space in the attempt to fly her home unmanned. NASA would use its option RCO (Remote Control Orbiter), a recent modification to the orbiters that allow the shuttle to complete the final landing procedures under control of its General Purpose Computers, rather than being controlled by its commander and pilot as is normally done. The shuttle would attempt to land either at Vandenberg Air Force Base (California) or White Sands Missile Range (New Mexico). Another option would be to de-orbit Atlantis and bring her in tail first so she would disintegrate in a controlled burn within the Earth’s atmosphere over the Pacific Ocean. However, NASA is confident that if Atlantis is damaged in space the crew has sufficient repair kits available so that the necessary repairs can be made to her in order to safely fly Atlantis home themselves. In all likelihood, there will be no problem with the servicing mission to the Hubble Space Telescope. However, based on requirements made after the space shuttle Columbia disaster, NASA must have a rescue mission ready in case a shuttle crew needs rescuing from space. |
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