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Planetary News: Hubble Space Telescope (2007)

Target Launch Date Set for Hubble Servicing Mission

 

June 7, 2007
A Plethora of Galaxies
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A Plethora of Galaxies
Looking out more than 450 million light-years away in the direction of the constellation Centaurus, NASA's Hubble Space Telescope took this image showing a diverse collection of galaxies in the cluster Abell S0740. Credit: NASA / ESA / The Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)

NASA announced today that September 10, 2008 is the target date 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 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 is planned to lift off from Launch Pad 39-B at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. However, details may change as managers continue to evaluate the manifest to determine the best mission options.

"The Hubble Space Telescope has been both extraordinarily productive and extraordinarily popular," said Louis D. Friedman, Executive Director of The Planetary Society. "I expect that the good wishes of people across the globe will accompany the servicing mission. Ours will be among them." In September 2005, The Planetary Society sent the U.S. Congress 10,000 signatures of support for keeping the Hubble Telescope in operation.

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 is scheduled to be retired. The complete shuttle launch manifest is available online at NASA's website.

The Hubble Space Telescope is an international cooperative project between NASA and the European Space Agency.

Read more on The Planetary Society's efforts to save the Hubble Space telescope.