Space Shuttle Atlantis STS-125

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Space Shuttle Atlantis STS-125 is the final space shuttle servicing mission to the Hubble Space Telescope and its fifth servicing mission. It is scheduled for launch on May 12, 2009. During the 11-day flight, Atlantis' seven astronauts will repair and improve the observatory's capabilities through 2013.

Space Shuttle Hubble Space Telescope Mission Picture

STS-125 mission will mark the 30th flight of the Space Shuttle Atlantis and the last manned mission to the space telescope. The mission is also known as Hubble Space Telescope Servicing Mission 4 (HST-SM4). STS-125 will also be considered the Final Solo flight of a Space Shuttle Orbiter. On October 31, 2006 the final go-ahead was given for the mission by NASA Administrator Mike Griffin.

STS-125 is classed as the most dangerous of the remaining flights of the Shuttle, and will require a second Shuttle to be on launch pad at the time of the launch. Pad 39-B will be required for this stand-by role which will constrain its deactivation and conversion for use for Ares I flight tests.

The aim of the last Space Shuttle flight to the Hubble Space Telescope is:

1.	Space Shuttle Atlantis will carry two new instruments to the orbital observatory, alongside the replacement of a 'Fine Guidance Sensor' and the telescope's gyroscopes and batteries.
2.	The crew will also install a new thermal blanket layer to provide better insulation and a 'Soft-Capture mechanism' to aid in the safe de-orbiting of the spacecraft at the end of it's operational lifespan.

Mission Timeline

The final space shuttle mission to the Hubble Space Telescope will resemble the previous shuttle servicing flights to the telescope: STS-61 in 1993, STS-82 in 1997, STS-103 in 1999 and STS-109 in 2002. A day-by-day sketch of what the mission will likely entail includes:

Flight Day 1:
� Launch and checkout of the shuttle robotic arm.

Flight Day 2:
� Robotic arm grapple of the OBSS and thermal shield inspection
� Spacesuit, airlock and rendezvous tool checkouts
� Rendezvous maneuvers
� Flight Support System checkout

Flight Day 3:
� Rendezvous and grapple of HST
� Berthing of HST onto the Flight Support System
� Shuttle robotic arm survey of shuttle�s thermal protection system
� EVA 1 preparations

Flight Day 4:
� EVA 1
� EVA 2 preparations

Flight Day 5:
� EVA 2
� EVA 3 preparations

Flight Day 6:
� EVA 3
� EVA 4 preparations

Flight Day 7:
� EVA 4
� EVA 5 preparations

Flight Day 8:
� EVA 5 (+ Read more about EVA 5)
� Reboost
� Shuttle robotic arm grapple of HST

Flight Day 9:
� HST release
� OBSS grapple and unberth for late inspection of shuttle�s starboard thermal shield and nosecap

Flight Day 10:
� Additional late inspection with OBSS of port thermal shield
� Berthing of OBSS
� Off duty time for the crew

Flight Day 11:
� Flight Control System checkout
� Reaction Control System hot-fire test
� Cabin Stowage
� Off duty time for the crew

Flight Day 12:
� Deorbit Preparations
� Payload Bay Door Closing
� De-orbit Burn
� KSC Landing

History

STS125 was originally scheduled for launch on October 8, 2008. Due to an anomaly aboard the telescope that occurred on September 27, 2008, STS-125 has been delayed until at least May 2009 to prepare a second data handling unit replacement for the telescope.

STS-125 Crew

The crew of Space Shuttle Atlantis STS-125 consist of 7 astronauts:

1. Scott D. Altman (Commander)
2. Gregory C. Johnson (Pilot)
3. John M. Grunsfeld (Mission Specialist)
4. Michael J. Massimino (Mission Specialist)
5. K. Megan McArthur (Mission Specialist)
6. Andrew J. Feustel (Mission Specialist)
7. Michael T. Good (Mission Specialist)

Next Missions

Space Shuttle missions beyond the Hubble flight are still being assessed. Please return to AeroSpaceGuide 2008 Astronomy and Space page for future launch dates.

Previous missions include: STS-118, STS-120, STS-117 (June 8, 2007),

Did you know?

The Hubble Space Telescope was launched by the U.S. on April 24, 1990 and is named after Astronomer Edwin P. Hubble. It is a Low Earth Orbiting (LEO) satellite, located about 375 miles (600 km) above the surface of the Earth. Hubble completes an orbit around the Earth every 97 minutes.

Space Shuttle Books
Books on Telescopes
Space Shuttle Model: Includes all types of merchandise
Shuttle Missions Patch Set
Hubble Space Telescope Picture CD:
from Amazon.com
This CD brings you the best of the NASA Hubble Space Telescope - 220 images with Image browser, Captions & screen saver. This CD makes a handy educational reference. Please note all opened CD's are non-returnable.
Space Shuttle Video and DVD:
- Hail Columbia (IMAX) (1982) from Amazon.com (dvd, vhs) and Amazon.co.uk dvd
- First U.S. Space Shuttle Mission Video (1981) from Amazon.com

Space Shuttle STS-125 Links and References:

NASA - STS-125: Hubble Space Telescope Servicing Mission 4:

Servicing Mission 4 - Overview - Space Shuttle Crew: Describes the Servicing Mission 4 to Hubble Space Telescope.

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Any comments on the Final Hubble Telescope mission, click on Contact Info.

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