Save Hubble

“They slipped this by me somehow -------



June 7, 2007

Allard Beutel
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-4769

James Hartsfield
Johnson Space Center, Houston
281-483-5111

RELEASE: 07-135

NASA UPDATES SHUTTLE TARGET LAUNCH DATE FOR HUBBLE MISSION

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:

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/structure/iss_manifest.html

The Hubble Space Telescope is an international cooperative project
between NASA and the European Space Agency. For more information
about Hubble, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/hubble


-end-



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                Hubble Project News



”

“
Jackson Myers
IMAX Corporation, Ontario, Canada
905-403-6500
jmyers@imax.com

RELEASE: 07-209

IMAX CAMERA RETURNS TO SPACE TO CHRONICLE HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE

WASHINGTON - IMAX Corporation and Warner Bros. Pictures announced
Monday that, in cooperation with NASA, the IMAX 3D camera is
scheduled to return to space in 2008 aboard the space shuttle during
STS-125 for production of a new film. Set for release in early 2010,
IMAX will chronicle the life story of the Hubble Space Telescope.

"We are thrilled that people from around the world will experience
this vital servicing mission from a front row seat," said Shana Dale,
NASA deputy administrator, Headquarters, Washington. "Audiences will
be mesmerized as they are transported to the distant galaxies of the
universe."

IMAX's long-standing partnership with NASA has enabled millions of
people to travel into space through a series of award-winning films.
The IMAX 3D camera made its first voyage into space in 2001 for the
production of "Space Station 3D." The Hubble IMAX 3D film will mark
Warner Bros. Picture's first venture into space.

Veteran astronaut Scott D. Altman will command the final space shuttle
mission to Hubble when the orbiter lifts off in late 2008. Navy
Reserve Capt. Gregory C. Johnson will serve as pilot. Mission
specialists are veteran spacewalkers John M. Grunsfeld, Michael J.
Massimino, and first-time space fliers Andrew J. Feustel, Michael T.
Good and K. Megan McArthur.

The Hubble servicing mission is an 11-day flight. Following launch,
the shuttle will rendezvous with the telescope on the third day of
the flight. Using the shuttle's mechanical arm, the telescope will be
placed on a work platform in the cargo bay. Five separate spacewalks
will be needed to accomplish all of the mission objectives.

"A decade ago we made a film that briefly touched on the subject of
Hubble, but back then its first images were just coming in," said
IMAX producer and director Toni Myers. "Today, we have Hubble's
entire phenomenal legacy of data to explore. With IMAX 3D, we can
transport people to galaxies that are literally 13 billion light
years away. Real star travel is here at last."

"Our original IMAX 3D releases have already put audiences in the
driver's seat of a NASCAR racecar and taken them swimming with some
of the most exotic undersea creatures on earth, and now we look
forward to transporting them to the far reaches of the universe,"
said Dan Fellman, domestic distribution president, Warner Bros.
Pictures. "Warner Bros. and IMAX have collaborated on 20 films over
the last four years, and we are excited to share our next endeavor -
the IMAX 3D space film - with our audience."

Among work scheduled during the mission is the installation of two new
instruments, the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph (COS) and Wide Field
Camera 3 (WFC3).

The COS is the most sensitive ultraviolet spectrograph ever flown on
Hubble. The instrument will probe the cosmic web, the large-scale
structure of the universe whose form is determined by the gravity of
dark matter and is traced by the spatial distribution of galaxies and
intergalactic gas. WFC3 is a new camera sensitive across a wide range
of wavelengths (colors), including infrared, visible, and ultraviolet
light. It will have a broad capability to study the planets in our
solar system, the early and distant galaxies beyond Hubble's current
reach, and nearby galaxies with stories to tell about their star
formation histories.

Other planned work includes installing a refurbished Fine Guidance
Sensor that replaces one degrading unit of the three already aboard.
The sensors control the telescope's pointing system. An attempt also
will be made to repair the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph.
Installed in 1997, it stopped working in 2004. The instrument is used
for high resolution studies in visible and ultraviolet light of both
nearby star systems and distant galaxies, providing information about
the motions and chemical makeup of stars, planetary atmospheres and
other galaxies.

Astronauts will attempt to repair the Advanced Camera for Surveys,
which stopped working in January 2007. The instrument consists of
three imagers that are equipped with a variety of filters and
dispersers that detect light from the ultraviolet to the near
infrared. It was installed during the March 2002 servicing mission
(SM3B).

The Hubble Space Telescope is an international cooperative project
between NASA and the European Space Agency. For more information
about the mission and the Hubble Space Telescope, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/hubble


-end-

”

“
          HST Year in Review

          Hubble stories, updates

          STS-125   (HST-SM4)   August 28, 2008

”

“WOW...People WORKING at a JOB...kinda neat huh Tilt....or. I mean you can always live in your parent's basement right?”

“My neighbor does the scheduling for Hubble. I know he's happy HST is getting more life!”

“new gyros!”

“GREAT!

Is that pronounced yee-ros?”

“Tasty.”

“Last scheduling info I've heard ----

Hubble Servicing Mission 4 (HST-SM4): STS-125
Atlantis is scheduled to launch October 8, 2008
11-day Mission, 5 Spacewalks Planned

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/hst_sm4/index.html

Atlantis previously flew on STS-122 which landed February 20, 2008



Next on NOVA: "NOVA scienceNOW"
With Neil deGrasse Tyson

http://www.pbs.org/nova/sciencenow/

Wednesday, July 9 at 9 p.m.
(Check your local listings as dates and times may vary.)

This broadcast looks at attempts to repair the Hubble Space
Telescope, ...

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sciencenow/0303/01.html”

“The Hubble Kaleidoscope

http://www.theonion.com/content/news/hubble_kaleidoscope_finds_evidence”

“What about the Jack Webb Space Telescope?”

“Later.”

“THe only way I'll trust it works is if the guy in the wheelchair in that picture talks through a voice modulator.”

“Lucasian (wheel)Chair?”

“Is it a telescope or a piece of "space art"?”

“Check the link.”

“
Sept. 05, 2008

Michael Curie
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-4715
michael.curie@nasa.gov

Kyle Herring
Johnson Space Center, Houston
281-483-5111
kyle.j.herring@nasa.gov

Candrea Thomas
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
321-867-2468
candrea.k.thomas@nasa.gov
MEDIA ADVISORY: 08-224

NASA CHANGES 2008 SHUTTLE TARGET LAUNCH DATES, SCHEDULES TCDT

HOUSTON -- NASA has adjusted the target launch dates for the two
remaining space shuttle missions in 2008. Shuttle Atlantis' STS-125
mission to the Hubble Space Telescope is targeted for Oct. 10, while
Endeavour's STS-126 supply mission to the International Space Station
has moved to Nov. 12.

Shuttle managers made the decision after Atlantis was rolled to the
launch pad and the effects of Tropical Storm Hanna were beyond NASA's
Kennedy Space Center in Florida. That allowed managers to more
accurately assess the impacts of recent tropical systems on the
launch schedule.

Atlantis began rolling from Kennedy's Vehicle Assembly Building to
Launch Pad 39A Thursday at 9:19 a.m. EDT. The shuttle arrived at the
pad at approximately 2 p.m. and was secured at 3:52 p.m. Atlantis
now is targeted to launch at approximately 12:33
a.m. EDT, Friday, Oct. 10. NASA Television coverage of
launch will begin at 7:30 p.m. EDT on Thursday, Oct. 9. The 11-day
flight will include five spacewalks to repair and upgrade the Hubble
telescope. Atlantis is scheduled to land at approximately 10:21 p.m.,
Oct. 20.

Scott Altman will command STS-125, with Gregory C. Johnson serving as
pilot. Mission specialists include veteran spacewalkers John
Grunsfeld and Mike Massimino, and first-time space fliers Andrew
Feustel, Michael Good and Megan McArthur.

Endeavour will close 2008 with a 15-day mission to deliver supplies
and cargo to the space station. During the STS-126 mission, NASA
astronaut Sandra Magnus will replace Greg Chamitoff as an Expedition
18 crew member on the station. Chamitoff will return to Earth after
five months in space. The mission's targeted launch time is 8:43 p.m.
EST, Nov. 12. Landing will occur at approximately 2:45 p.m., Nov. 27.


Chris Ferguson will command STS-126, with Eric Boe serving as pilot.
Mission specialists will be Steve Bowen, Shane Kimbrough, Heidemarie
Stefanyshyn-Piper, Donald Pettit, Magnus and Chamitoff.

The formal launch dates for space shuttle flights are determined
during the Flight Readiness Review, which is conducted about two
weeks before launch. The STS-125 review is scheduled for Sept. 22-23.
The review for STS-126 is scheduled for Oct. 30.

An STS-125 launch dress rehearsal, known as the terminal countdown
demonstration test, or TCDT, is scheduled to take place at Kennedy
Sept. 22-24. The test provides each shuttle crew with an opportunity
to participate in simulated countdown activities, including equipment
familiarization and emergency training.

The following media events are associated with the test. All times are
Eastern.

- Sept. 21 - STS-125 crew arrival: The astronauts will arrive at 7
p.m. at the Shuttle Landing Facility and make a brief statement. The
arrival will be not be broadcast live on NASA Television, but will
replay as a NASA TV Video File.

- Sept. 23 - STS-125 crew availability: The crew will take news media
questions at Launch Pad 39A at 8:30 a.m. The event will be carried
live on NASA TV.

- Sept. 24 - STS-125 crew walkout photo opportunity: The astronauts
will depart from the Operations and Checkout Building at 7:45 a.m.
wearing their launch and entry suits in preparation for the countdown
demonstration test at the launch pad. The walkout will not be
broadcast live, but will be included in the NASA TV Video File.

Dates and times of events are subject to change. Schedule updates are
available at 321-867-2525.

Foreign media must apply for accreditation online by 4 p.m., Friday,
Sept. 5. U.S. media without permanent Kennedy Space Center
credentials must apply for accreditation online by 4 p.m., Tuesday,
Sept. 16, at:

https://media.ksc.nasa.gov

To attend crew arrival, reporters must pick up badges before 4 p.m.,
Friday, Sept 19, at the Kennedy badging facility on State Road 405.
For information about covering these events, including proper attire
and meeting locations, credentialed media should visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/news/media.html

Video B-roll of the terminal countdown demonstration test will be
available on the NASA TV Video File. For NASA TV downlink
information, schedules and links to streaming video, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/ntv


For more information about the International Space Station, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/station


For more about two remaining shuttle missions of 2008, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle


-end-

”

“Can I go ... huh ... can I?”

“Speaking of, how IS your prostate holding up?”

“Media credentials for a night launch would be waaaaaaycool!”

“
Sept. 11, 2008

John Yembrick
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-0602
john.yembrick-1@nasa.gov

Candrea Thomas
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
321-867-2468
candrea.k.thomas@nasa.gov
MEDIA ADVISORY: M08-174

NASA'S SPACE SHUTTLE ENDEAVOUR TO MOVE TO LAUNCH PAD SEPT. 18

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Space shuttle Endeavour is scheduled to roll
out to Launch Pad 39B at NASA's Kennedy Space Center on Thursday,
Sept. 18, in preparation for shuttle Atlantis' mission to repair the
Hubble Space Telescope. Endeavour will stand by in the unlikely event
a rescue mission is necessary following Atlantis' launch, which is
targeted for Oct. 10.

After Endeavour is cleared from its duty as a rescue vehicle, it will
move to Launch Pad 39A for the upcoming STS-126 mission to the
International Space Station. That flight is targeted for launch Nov. 12.

On Thursday, Endeavour rolled over from Kennedy's Orbiter Processing
Facility to the Vehicle Assembly Building. There, Endeavour will be
attached to its external fuel tank and twin solid rocket boosters to
prepare for its move to the pad.

The first motion of the shuttle toward the launch pad Sept. 18 is
scheduled for 12:01 a.m. EDT. The fully assembled space shuttle,
consisting of the orbiter, external tank and twin solid rocket
boosters, will be delivered to the pad atop a crawler-transporter.
The crawler will travel slower than 1 mph during the 4.2-mile
journey. The process is expected to take approximately seven hours.

NASA Television will provide live coverage of Endeavour's rollout to
the launch pad beginning at 6:30 a.m. Sept. 18. Video highlights of
the rollout will air on the NASA TV Video File.

Media are invited to a photo opportunity of the shuttle's move to the
pad and interview availability with Endeavour Vehicle Manager Shelley
Ford at 8 a.m. Thursday. Because dates and times of this event are
subject to change, updates are available by calling 321-867-2525.

Media must arrive at Kennedy's news center by 6 a.m. Thursday for
transportation to the viewing area. Foreign media with credentials
must arrive at the Pass and ID Building on State Road 3 by 6 a.m. for
transportation to the news center. The accreditation deadline for
this event has passed for members of foreign news media. U.S.
reporters without permanent Kennedy Space Center credentials must
apply for accreditation online by 4 p.m. Monday, Sept. 15, at:

https://media.ksc.nasa.gov



Badges must be picked up by 4 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 17 at the new
Kennedy Space Center Badging Office on State Road 405, west of Gate 3
(just past the Kennedy Visitor's Complex).

For NASA TV downlink information, schedules and links to streaming
video, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/ntv


-end-




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”

“


Last Call
by Ron Cowen
September 27th, 2008; Vol.174 #7 (p. 24)

The final mission to the Hubble Space Telescope, set for early October, could radically transform the observatory, but the crew faces some special challenges

”

“
Michael Curie
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-4715
michael.curie@nasa.gov

Kyle Herring
Johnson Space Center, Houston
281-483-5111
kyle.j.herring@nasa.gov

Candrea Thomas
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
321-867-2468
candrea.k.thomas@nasa.gov

Sept. 24, 2008

MEDIA ADVISORY : M08-181

NASA Announces New Target Launch Dates, Status News Conference

WASHINGTON -- The target launch date for space shuttle Atlantis' STS-125 mission to service the Hubble Space Telescope has been reset to Oct. 14 at 10:19 p.m. EDT. A news conference is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 3, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida to announce an official launch date.

With the delay of Atlantis' launch from Oct. 10 to Oct. 14, shuttle Endeavour's STS-126 supply mission to the International Space Station, also will move from Nov. 12 to Nov. 16 at 7:07 p.m. EST. The target launch date adjustments were made Wednesday during the Space Shuttle Program's Flight Readiness Review, which concludes Thursday.

Detailed assessments were presented Wednesday by Mission Operations, Flight Crew Operations, and training divisions affected by the closure of the NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, as a result of Hurricane Ike. While vehicle processing at Kennedy continues on schedule, the lost week of training and mission preparation due to the impacts of the storm led to the decision to slip the dates.

The Oct. 3 news conference will follow the Flight Readiness Review, a meeting to assess preparations for the STS-125 mission to Hubble, and will begin no earlier than 4 p.m. EDT.

The briefing participants are:
- Associate Administrator for Space Operations Bill Gerstenmaier
- Deputy Associate Administrator for Programs, Science Mission Directorate Mike Luther
- Space Shuttle Program Manager John Shannon
- STS-125 Launch Director Ed Mango

NASA Television and the agency's Web site will broadcast the briefing live. Media may ask questions from participating NASA locations. Reporters should contact their preferred NASA center to confirm its participation.

For NASA TV streaming video, downlink and scheduling information, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/ntv


For more about the two remaining shuttle missions of 2008, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle


- end -

”

“Aww geeze, here we go again, another Federal bailout!”