NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Extending Hubble’s Mission Life with New Batteries

Over the years disposable and rechargeable batteries for electronics have made life easier for millions of consumers, running everything from smoke detectors to digital cameras to computer laptops.

Image above: This image shows a close up of the two nickel hydrogen battery modules, containing three batteries each, destined for Hubble. Image credit: NASA

Hubble’s Rechargeable Batteries

The famed Hubble Space Telescope relies on specially formulated rechargeable batteries that provide power to the telescope’s science instruments and critical components during each night orbit.

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Hubble Astronauts Take Part in Education Event

Image above: NASA education specialist Tara Clopper introduces the STS-125 crew at the Distance Learning Network event at Goddard. Image credit: NASA

Hubble astronauts were at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., the week of April 28 practicing hands-on procedures for the last Shuttle trip to the famed telescope later this year.

In addition to their daily briefings and hands-on training inside the world’s largest cleanroom at Goddard, several crew members took part in a virtual education event. Astronauts Altman, Good, Massimino, Feustel, Johnson, and Grunsfeld came to the Goddard TV studio to participate in a NASA Digital Learning Network (DLN) session, which connects students from across the country with educators and other special guests via videoconferencing, where students and NASA presenters can see and hear one another.

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STS-125: Final Shuttle Mission to Hubble Space Telescope


Image above: The astronauts selected for the final shuttle mission to perform work on the Hubble Space Telescope pose for a group photo. From left to right are astronauts Megan McArthur, Michael Good, Gregory C. Johnson, Scott Altman, John Grunsfeld, Michael Massimino and Andrew Feustel. Image credit: NASA

HOUSTON - NASA managers officially are targeting this fall 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, designated STS-125, 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.