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Hubble's new spectrograph fitted | Hubble's new spectrograph fitted |
(20 minutes later) | |
Astronauts upgrading the Hubble Space Telescope have made a third spacewalk in as many days to make repairs deep inside the orbiting observatory. | Astronauts upgrading the Hubble Space Telescope have made a third spacewalk in as many days to make repairs deep inside the orbiting observatory. |
Mission chief mechanic John Grunsfeld delved into the interior of Hubble to replace computer circuitry that was never meant to be repaired in space. | Mission chief mechanic John Grunsfeld delved into the interior of Hubble to replace computer circuitry that was never meant to be repaired in space. |
He was joined by Andrew Feustel to install a new $88m (£58m) instrument. | He was joined by Andrew Feustel to install a new $88m (£58m) instrument. |
The Cosmic Origins Spectrograph (COS) will provide greater insight into how planets, stars and galaxies are formed. | The Cosmic Origins Spectrograph (COS) will provide greater insight into how planets, stars and galaxies are formed. |
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 Hubble | 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 Hubble |
Mr Grunsfeld, a 50-year-old astronomer, and Mr Feustel, a 43-year-old geologist, also attached a new external power source. | Mr Grunsfeld, a 50-year-old astronomer, and Mr Feustel, a 43-year-old geologist, also attached a new external power source. |
As part of the seven-hour long operation Mr Grunsfeld removed 32 tiny screws using an assortment of hand ratchets and cutters. | As part of the seven-hour long operation Mr Grunsfeld removed 32 tiny screws using an assortment of hand ratchets and cutters. |
On Friday, the astronauts struggled to complete a critical repair to the telescope, refurbishing a pair of gyroscopes into the telescope after a new set refused to go in. | |
The troubled spacewalk - the second - was the longest yet, lasting eight hours. | The troubled spacewalk - the second - was the longest yet, lasting eight hours. |
"At times, I felt like I was wrestling a bear," Mike Massimino was quoted as saying by AFP news agency, as he and Mike Good struggled to install the gyroscopes, or "rate sensing units" (RSUs). | "At times, I felt like I was wrestling a bear," Mike Massimino was quoted as saying by AFP news agency, as he and Mike Good struggled to install the gyroscopes, or "rate sensing units" (RSUs). |
Previously, only three of the six gyroscopes worked, now Hubble has four brand new sets and two refurbished ones. Only two are needed to orient the telescope properly. | Previously, only three of the six gyroscopes worked, now Hubble has four brand new sets and two refurbished ones. Only two are needed to orient the telescope properly. |
There have now been 21 spacewalks undertaken in the service of the 19-year-old observatory. | There have now been 21 spacewalks undertaken in the service of the 19-year-old observatory. |
On Thursday, the telescope's Wide Field Camera was replaced, giving the telescope an even deeper view into space - and back into the history of time. | On Thursday, the telescope's Wide Field Camera was replaced, giving the telescope an even deeper view into space - and back into the history of time. |
A data processing unit that failed in 2008 was also replaced. | A data processing unit that failed in 2008 was also replaced. |
There are no plans for further trips to Hubble after this mission ends which is why the repairs are so crucial. | There are no plans for further trips to Hubble after this mission ends which is why the repairs are so crucial. |
"We're enjoying the moment and savouring it... the goal is to make the next two days go as well as today went," senior spokesman for Nasa Preston Burch said. | "We're enjoying the moment and savouring it... the goal is to make the next two days go as well as today went," senior spokesman for Nasa Preston Burch said. |
If all goes well, the fifth and final spacewalk is set for Monday and the telescope will be released from the cargo bay of the Atlantis shuttle on Tuesday. | If all goes well, the fifth and final spacewalk is set for Monday and the telescope will be released from the cargo bay of the Atlantis shuttle on Tuesday. |