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Shuttle in rendezvous with Hubble Shuttle reaches Hubble telescope
(20 minutes later)
Space shuttle Atlantis has reached the Hubble telescope, orbiting at a height of 560km (350 miles) over the Earth.Space shuttle Atlantis has reached the Hubble telescope, orbiting at a height of 560km (350 miles) over the Earth.
The shuttle crew completed a delicate dance of manoeuvres to align the shuttle's robotic arm with the telescope on their approach.The shuttle crew completed a delicate dance of manoeuvres to align the shuttle's robotic arm with the telescope on their approach.
The arm was used to get hold of Hubble and draw it into the shuttle's bay.The arm was used to get hold of Hubble and draw it into the shuttle's bay.
At 1912 BST, Nasa controllers confirmed that the telescope had been safely berthed atop a platform in Atlantis' payload bay.
Five spacewalks beginning on Thursday will upgrade and repair the telescope, which has suffered from recent equipment failures.Five spacewalks beginning on Thursday will upgrade and repair the telescope, which has suffered from recent equipment failures.
The shuttle crew will now be able to get their first close look at Hubble since March 2002. On the final approach, the shuttle paused at a distance of about 75m, then made an adjustment of 42 degrees to its "yaw", or twist.
On the final approach the shuttle paused at a distance of about 75 metres, then made an adjustment of 42 degrees to its "yaw", or twist.
HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE Named after the great US astronomer Edwin HubbleLaunched in 1990 into a 600km-high circular orbit Equipped with a 2.4m primary mirror and five instrumentsLength: 15.9m; diameter: 4.2m; Mass: 11,110kg In pictures: The best of HubbleHUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE Named after the great US astronomer Edwin HubbleLaunched in 1990 into a 600km-high circular orbit Equipped with a 2.4m primary mirror and five instrumentsLength: 15.9m; diameter: 4.2m; Mass: 11,110kg In pictures: The best of Hubble
Though the crew can control Hubble's movements, the team opted to align the shuttle to the telescope, rather than vice versa.Though the crew can control Hubble's movements, the team opted to align the shuttle to the telescope, rather than vice versa.
At a distance of about ten metres from the telescope, astronaut Megan McArthur used the 16-metre robotic arm to grasp the telescope's "grapple fixture". Astronauts were able to get their first close look at Hubble since March 2002.
At a distance of about ten metres from the telescope, astronaut Megan McArthur used the 16m-long robotic arm to grasp the telescope's "grapple fixture".
"Houston, Hubble has arrived on board Atlantis," said Atlantis commander Scott Altman as the robotic arm locked with the fixture."Houston, Hubble has arrived on board Atlantis," said Atlantis commander Scott Altman as the robotic arm locked with the fixture.
The telescope will now be drawn delicately to a platform in the shuttle's bay. The telescope is now being drawn delicately to a platform in the shuttle's bay.
Looking out of one of the shuttle's windows, mission specialist John Grunsfeld said: "Hubble, an old man of 19 years. It still looks in fantastic shape." Looking out of one of Atlantis's windows, mission specialist John Grunsfeld said: "Hubble, an old man of 19 years. It still looks in fantastic shape."
Previously, Nasa officials had prepared people to expect a Hubble that was more "beaten up" than the last visit by the shuttle. Previously, Nasa officials had prepared people to expect a Hubble that was more "beaten up" than on the last visit by the shuttle.
A series of spacewalks to be undertaken over the next five days will repair and replace a number of experiments on the telescope.A series of spacewalks to be undertaken over the next five days will repair and replace a number of experiments on the telescope.