Take one space shuttle, seven highly trained astronauts, tons of equipment, and one legendary orbiting telescope and you have the 5.3 million-mile odyssey that was Hubble's final servicing mission.
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STS-125 Mission Information
Image above: From the left are astronauts Michael J. Massimino, Michael T. Good, both mission specialists; Gregory C. Johnson, pilot; Scott D. Altman, commander; K. Megan McArthur, John M. Grunsfeld and Andrew J. Feustel, all mission specialists. Image credit: NASA
Veteran astronaut Scott D. Altman commanded the final space shuttle mission to Hubble. Retired Navy Capt. Gregory C. Johnson served as pilot. Mission specialists included veteran spacewalkers John M. Grunsfeld and Michael J. Massimino and first-time space fliers Andrew J. Feustel, Michael T. Good and K. Megan McArthur.
Atlantis’ astronauts repaired and upgraded the Hubble Space Telescope, conducting five spacewalks during their mission to extend the life of the orbiting observatory. They successfully installed two new instruments and repaired two others, bringing them back to life, replaced gyroscopes and batteries, and added new thermal insulation panels to protect the orbiting observatory. The result is six working, complementary science instruments with capabilities beyond what was available and an extended operational lifespan until at least 2014.
With the newly installed Wide Field Camera, Hubble will be able to observe in ultraviolet and infrared spectrums as well as visible light, peer deep onto the cosmic frontier in search of the earliest star systems and study planets in the solar system. The telescope’s new Cosmic Origins Spectrograph will allow it to study the grand-scale structure of the universe, including the star-driven chemical evolution that produce carbon and the other elements necessary for life.
Mission Information
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STS-125: The Final Visit
It's a mission to once more push the boundaries of how deep in space and far back in time humanity can see. It's a flight to again upgrade what already may be the most significant satellite ever launched.
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STS-125 Crew
Meet the astronauts of the STS-125 mission aboard space shuttle Atlantis.
STS-125 Features
Mission Accomplished: Leaving Hubble Better Than Ever
Astro Mike Rockets to a Million on Twitter
Astronaut Mike Massimino, the first human to tweet from space, recently became the first astronaut to reach one million followers on Twitter.
Hubble Flight Tests Toolmakers
Tool designers at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center had to invent several new instruments for the STS-125 mission.
STS-125 Crew Journals
As they prepare for their shuttle mission to the Hubble Space Telescope, the STS-125 crew members share their thoughts through these journals.
Servicing Mission 4 Essentials
In May, 2009, astronauts will board the Space Shuttle Atlantis for Servicing Mission 4 (SM4), the final trip to the Hubble Telescope.
Pocket Telescope, Lens Celebrate Hubble Mission
The astronauts of Atlantis will mark their mission with a wide array of commemorative items they take into space.
Overview
Launch:
2:01 p.m. EDT – May 11, 2009
Landing:
11:39 a.m. EDT – May 24, 2009
Orbiter:
Atlantis
Mission Number:
STS-125
(126th space shuttle flight)
Launch Window:
Approximately 40 minutes
Launch Pad:
39A
Mission Duration:
12 days, 21 hours, 37 minutes
Landing Site:
Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.
Inclination/Altitude:
28.5 degrees/304 nautical miles
Primary Payload:
+ Hubble Space Telescope Servicing Mission 4
+ STS-125 Press Kit (PDF 4.8 Mb)
+ Mission Archives
Related Multimedia
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STS-125 Mission Overview
The astronauts of space shuttle Atlantis upgraded NASA's Hubble Space Telescope during STS-125 before releasing the observatory for years more studies of the cosmos.
› View This Video -
Atlantis Returns to Florida
Space shuttle Atlantis flew back to Florida on the top of one of NASA's Shuttle Carrier Aircraft.
› View This Video -
Welcome Home, STS-125 Crew!
The seven-member crew of STS-125 is welcomed home at a ceremony at Ellington Field in Houston following the final the Hubble Space Telescope servicing mission.
› Listen Now
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STS-125 Imagery →
Visit the gallery for the final shuttle mission to the Hubble Space Telescope.
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STS-109 Imagery →
Visit the STS-109 photo gallery.
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STS-103 Imagery →
View images from the STS-103 mission to service the Hubble Space Telescope.
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STS-82 Imagery →
View images from the second Hubble servicing mission.
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Space Shuttle Gallery →
Imagery of shuttle missions from the Human Spaceflight gallery.
 "NASA's Hubble Space Telescope")
 "Atlantis on the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft")