STS-125 Mission Updates: Part 2

Fourth Spacewalk Concludes for Hubble Astronauts
17 May 2009 6:16 p.m. EDT

HOUSTON ? Astronauts Michael Massimino and Michael Good are back inside the shuttle Atlantis after completing today?s arduous spacewalk repair on the Hubble Telescope?s STIS spectrograph.

Click here for the full story.

The spacewalk lasted 8 hours, 2 minutes, the longest yet for Atlantis? crew.

Today is Flight Day 7 of Atlantis? 11-day mission to the Hubble Space Telescope.

- Tariq Malik

NASA is broadcasting Atlantis? STS-125 mission to the Hubble Space Telescope on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

Spacewalkers Check Tools After Hubble Repair
17 May 2009 5:20 p.m. EDT

HOUSTON ? Spacewalkers Michael Massimino and Michael Good are performing some clean up tasks as they prepare to end today?s arduous repair job on the Hubble Space Telescope. They?ve closed Hubble?s access doors that allowed them to fix its ailing STIS spectrograph.

Today is Flight Day 7 of Atlantis? 11-day mission to the Hubble Space Telescope.

- Tariq Malik

NASA is broadcasting Atlantis? STS-125 mission to the Hubble Space Telescope on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

Repaired Hubble Spectrograph Powers Up
17 May 2009 4:57 p.m. EDT

HOUSTON ? As astronauts Michael Massimino and Michael Good cleaning up the tools the used to repair Hubble?s ailing STIS spectrograph, a test by ground controllers has successfully powered up the instrument in a so-called ?aliveness test.? Massimino has just reported seeing what appeared to be a small tear in the palm of his left spacesuit glove.

?I can see what looks like something white underneath,? Massimino said. Mission Control evaluated video of the tear and checked Massimino's suit pressure, which is fine. There's no need for him to make an emergency run to the Atlantis airlock.

Click here for SPACE.com?s updated story.

Mission Control has decided that the already over-long spacewalk will not include a maintenance chore to install insulation on Hubble. That task will be moved to a final spacewalk tomorrow.?

Today is Flight Day 7 of Atlantis? 11-day mission to the Hubble Space Telescope.

- Tariq Malik

NASA is broadcasting Atlantis? STS-125 mission to the Hubble Space Telescope on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

Spacewalkers Clean Up Hubble Repair Site
17 May 2009 4:40 p.m. EDT

HOUSTON ? Spacewalkers Michael Massimino and Michael Good are cleaning up their work site inside the Hubble Space Telescope, where they replaced a power supply circuit board inside the telescope?s STIS spectrograph.

Click here for SPACE.com?s updated story.

Mission Control has decided that the already over-long spacewalk will not include a maintenance chore to install insulation on Hubble. That task will be moved to a final spacewalk tomorrow.?

Today is Flight Day 7 of Atlantis? 11-day mission to the Hubble Space Telescope.

- Tariq Malik

NASA is broadcasting Atlantis? STS-125 mission to the Hubble Space Telescope on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

Spacewalkers Replace Hubble Circuit Board
17 May 2009 4:04 p.m. EDT

HOUSTON ? Spacewalkers Michael Massimino and Michael Good have removed the afflicted power supply circuit board inside Hubble?s STIS spectrograph and installed its replacement.

Today?s spacewalk, which began at 9:45 a.m. EDT (1345 GMT) and was slated to run 6 1/2 hours has now passed the 6-hour mark.

Click here for SPACE.com?s updated story.

The next task is to install a new cover plate ? one that does not have 111 tiny screws ? to close out the spectrograph work site.

After stowing the cover plate in a container ? which is proving difficult ? they will replace the faulty power supply circuit board in the STIS spectrograph.

Today is Flight Day 7 of Atlantis? 11-day mission to the Hubble Space Telescope.

- Tariq Malik

NASA is broadcasting Atlantis? STS-125 mission to the Hubble Space Telescope on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

Spacewalkers Finally Open Hubble Spectrograph
17 May 2009 3:30 p.m. EDT

HOUSTON ? After hours of work, spacewalkers Michael Massimino and Michael Good have finally removed the cover plate from Hubble?s STIS spectrograph and are stowing it away for the return to Earth. They are hours behind schedule due to the stuck handrail bolt and dead power tool battery earlier.

Click here for SPACE.com?s updated story.

After stowing the cover plate in a container ? which is proving difficult ? they will replace the faulty power supply circuit board in the STIS spectrograph.

Today is Flight Day 7 of Atlantis? 11-day mission to the Hubble Space Telescope.

- Tariq Malik

NASA is broadcasting Atlantis? STS-125 mission to the Hubble Space Telescope on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

Spacewalkers Remove Tiny Screws from Hubble
17 May 2009 3:15 p.m. EDT

HOUSTON ? Spacewalkers Michael Massimino and Michael Good have removed the 111 screws in the cover plate blocking their way to the electronic insides of Hubble?s broken STIS spectrograph. He?s removing the stanchions latching it down now.

All of the work to present has been set up to gain access to a faulty power supply circuit board inside STIS.

Today is Flight Day 7 of Atlantis? 11-day mission to the Hubble Space Telescope.

- Tariq Malik

NASA is broadcasting Atlantis? STS-125 mission to the Hubble Space Telescope on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

After Frustrating Delays, Spacewalks Tackle Hubble Repair
17 May 2009 2:20 p.m. EDT

HOUSTON ? After a series of frustrating delays, spacewalkers Michael Massimino and Michael Good can finally reach the STIS spectrograph work site. They had to rip a handrail off with brute strength, and then retrieve a spare power tool after their first one failed.

Click here for SPACE.com?s updated story. Massimino is now removing a series of 111 tiny screws that form the bulk of the 117 fasteners he will take out for today?s repair.

Today is Flight Day 7 of Atlantis? 11-day mission to the Hubble Space Telescope.

- Tariq Malik

NASA is broadcasting Atlantis? STS-125 mission to the Hubble Space Telescope on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

Spacewalkers Have Plan C for Stuck Hubble Bolt
17 May 2009 12:49 p.m. EDT

HOUSTON ? NASA has a new plan for spacewalker Michael Massimino: rip off the stuck handrail bolt with brute force. It?s Plan C after more gentle attempts to unscrew the bolt didn?t work.

Mission Control told Massimino that he?d have to give the handrail a good pull to bend it and shear off the stuck bolt.

?I think you?ve got that in you,? astronaut Andrew Feustel told the spacewalk.

?I can try,? Massimino said.

The handrail is blocking Massimino?s access to a cover plate with 111 smaller screws ? he already removed a few others ? that he has to remove in order to reach the broken STIS spectrograph today.

Click here for a look at today?s work in space.

Today is Flight Day 7 of Atlantis? 11-day mission to the Hubble Space Telescope.

- Tariq Malik

NASA is broadcasting Atlantis? STS-125 mission to the Hubble Space Telescope on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

Hubble Screw Stuck Fast, Spacewalkers Draw New Plan
17 May 2009 12:19 p.m. EDT

HOUSTON ? The stubborn handrail bolt that refuses to budge for the spacewalker Michael Massimino appears to be stuck fast, and possibly stripped. Massimino?s attempt to remove the screw using a new bit failed to work.

?Houston, Plan B is not working, we?re looking forward to your suggestions,? astronaut Andrew Feustel radioed down from Atlantis.

?What?s Plan C?? Massimino asked. Mission Control has sent the spacewalker for more tools, these ones built to remove the handrail?s foundation, which should do the trick.

Click here for a look at today?s work in space.

Today is Flight Day 7 of Atlantis? 11-day mission to the Hubble Space Telescope.

- Tariq Malik

NASA is broadcasting Atlantis? STS-125 mission to the Hubble Space Telescope on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

Spacewalkers Tackle Stubborn Hubble Screw
17 May 2009 11:55 a.m. EDT

HOUSTON ? Spacewalker Michael Massimino has hit a snag as he tries to remove a handrail from the exterior of the electronics box he is trying to access to fix Hubble?s STIS spectrograph. One of four screws holding the handrail in place is not coming out. Mission Control has suggested he try again with a new screwdriver bit.

?Do we have a plan if the new bit doesn?t work? Can we try keeping the handrail on or something?? Massimino asked.

Mission Control hopes the new bit will work. But engineers are studying other fixes.

?We?re working on Plan C, I guess,? Mission Control told Massimino.

Click here for a look at today?s work in space.

Today is Flight Day 7 of Atlantis? 11-day mission to the Hubble Space Telescope.

- Tariq Malik

NASA is broadcasting Atlantis? STS-125 mission to the Hubble Space Telescope on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

Spacewalkers Begin Hubble Spectrograph Fix
17 May 2009 11:26 a.m. EDT

HOUSTON ? Spacewalker Michael Massimino has begun the intricate fix that is the goal of today?s repairs at the Hubble Space Telescope. He is using a custom-made tools to begin an arduous process of removing a handrail, which required him to remove small screws and washers ? but make sure they don?t float away into space or into Hubble?s delicate electronic guts.

?Nice work, Mass, really nice work,? astronaut Andrew Feustel called out as Massimino prepared to remove the fasteners.

Click here for a look at today?s work in space.

Today is Flight Day 7 of Atlantis? 11-day mission to the Hubble Space Telescope.

- Tariq Malik

NASA is broadcasting Atlantis? STS-125 mission to the Hubble Space Telescope on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

Spacewalkers Reach Hubble Worksite for Repairs
17 May 2009 10:30 a.m. EDT

HOUSTON ? Spacewalkers Michael Massimino and Michael Good have reached their worksite on the Hubble Space Telescope and opened its instrument bay doors. Good is riding the shuttle?s robotic arm, which is being driven by astronaut Megan McArthur inside Atlantis. Massimino is floating free.

Together, Massimino and Good will attempt to fix Hubble?s ailing STIS spectrograph, a versatile tool that has been broken since 2004. He must remove 117 tiny screws, make sure they don?t escape into space, and open up a panel door to reach the problem: a broken power supply circuit board. It is work that was never expected to be performed in space.

Click here for a look at today?s work in space.

Today is Flight Day 7 of Atlantis? 11-day mission to the Hubble Space Telescope.

- Tariq Malik

NASA is broadcasting Atlantis? STS-125 mission to the Hubble Space Telescope on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

Fourth Spacewalk Begins for Hubble Repair
17 May 2009 9:49 a.m. EDT

HOUSTON ? Atlantis astronauts Michael Massimino and Michael Good have officially begun today?s spacewalk at the Hubble Space Telescope, as they switched their NASA-issue spacesuits to battery power at 9:45 a.m. EDT (1345 GMT) while flying 350 miles (563 km) above central Australia.

?It looks dark out there,? Massimino said.

The outer hatch of the shuttle?s airlock is open. Their main task of the day is repairing a long-silent ? but extremely versatile ? spectrograph on Hubble.

Click here for a look at today?s work in space.

Today is Flight Day 7 of Atlantis? 11-day mission to the Hubble Space Telescope.

- Tariq Malik

NASA is broadcasting Atlantis? STS-125 mission to the Hubble Space Telescope on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

Astronauts Depressurize Airlock for Hubble Spacewalk
17 May 2009 9:43 a.m. EDT

HOUSTON ? Atlantis astronauts Michael Massimino and Michael Good are depressurizing the shuttle airlock in preparation for today?s spacewalk repair of the Hubble Space Telescope. They plan to fix the observatory?s crippled STIS spectrograph and perform other maintenance in the challenging fix.

Click here for a look at today?s work in space.

Today is Flight Day 7 of Atlantis? 11-day mission to the Hubble Space Telescope.

- Tariq Malik

NASA is broadcasting Atlantis? STS-125 mission to the Hubble Space Telescope on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

Astronauts Double-Check Spacewalkers Boot
17 May 2009 9:00 a.m. EDT

HOUSTON ? Atlantis astronauts are running a bit behind schedule for today?s Hubble work after double-checking a boot on spacewalker Michael Good?s spacesuit to make sure it fit properly. Good had told Mission Control late Saturday that he experienced some pain during a Friday spacewalk.

Click here for a look at today?s work in space.

After making some adjustments, the boot was properly fitted. Today?s spacewalk is less than hour from beginning, but is about a half hour behind schedule.

Today is Flight Day 7 of Atlantis? 11-day mission to the Hubble Space Telescope.

- Tariq Malik

NASA is broadcasting Atlantis? STS-125 mission to the Hubble Space Telescope on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

Astronauts Suit Up for Spacewalk
17 May 2009 8:35 a.m. EDT

HOUSTON ? Atlantis shuttle astronauts Michael Massimino and Michael Good are gearing up for the fourth spacewalk of their mission at the Hubble Space Telescope, this one aimed at resurrecting a dead spectrograph on the orbital observatory. The astronauts are in the shuttle?s airlock.

Today?s spacewalk is aimed at resurrecting Hubble?s dead STIS spectrograph and was slated to begin at about 9:16 a.m. EDT (1316 GMT).

Today is Flight Day 7 of Atlantis? 11-day mission to the Hubble Space Telescope.

- Tariq Malik

NASA is broadcasting Atlantis? STS-125 mission to the Hubble Space Telescope on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

Atlantis Astronauts Prepare for 4th Spacewalk
17 May 2009 6:53 a.m. EDT

HOUSTON ? Atlantis shuttle astronauts are gearing up for their fourth spacewalk at the Hubble Space Telescope, this one aimed at resurrecting a dead spectrograph on the orbital observatory.

Mission Control roused the astronauts at 5:31 a.m. EDT (0931 GMT) with the song ?New York State of Mind? by Billy Joel, a tune selected for astronaut Michael Massimino, a dedicated New Yorker.

?It?s great to hear that song by a fellow New Yorker Billy Joel and I know it?s coming from my favorite New Yorker, my wife Caroline, the love of my life, I love you very much,? Massimino said as he thanked his wife and children. ?You?re in my heart and mind always and I can?t wait to see you in a few days.?

Today is Flight Day 7 of Atlantis? 11-day mission to the Hubble Space Telescope.

- Tariq Malik

NASA is broadcasting Atlantis? STS-125 mission to the Hubble Space Telescope on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

NASA: Hubble Camera Fix Only Partial Success
17 May 2009 1:03 a.m. EDT

HOUSTON ? After a series of late-night tests, Hubble Space Telescope engineers have determined that the ambitious spacewalk repair of the observatory?s Advanced Camera for Surveys met with only partial success, with one of the instrument?s photo imaging channels now likely permanently offline.

Spacewalkers replaced electronics cards in the camera on Saturday during a never-before-attempted repair to revive the ailing camera, which suffered an electrical short in 2007 that shut down two of its three science channels. The survey camera includes a solar blind channel sensitive to ultraviolet light, a wide-field camera channel and a high-resolution camera channel.

During Saturday?s spacewalk, astronauts made repairs to the camera?s wide-field channel in order to restore power to the system. Because of time-constraints, NASA opted not to attempt to replace similar cards in the high-resolution channel. Instead, engineers on Earth hoped to reroute power to that channel through its wide-field counterpart. But they discovered late Saturday that that option would not work.

?The electrical short that they suspected in that camera was actually upstream of where the astronauts were working today,? NASA commentator Josh Byerly said on NASA TV. ?The repair did not work.?

Before the ambitious camera fix, Atlantis astronauts and Hubble scientists repeatedly stressed that never-before had such repairs been attempted. Even if the actual spacewalks went flawlessly, as Saturday?s did, there were no guarantees that the fixes would work, they added.

Byerly said that Hubble managers still consider the camera?s repair attempt a success. Of all the science performed by the instrument, 95 percent of it is with the wide-field channel.

Click here for a look at Saturday?s intricate spacewalk.

?- Tariq Malik

NASA is broadcasting Atlantis? STS-125 mission to the Hubble Space Telescope on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

Astronauts Complete 3rd Hubble Spacewalk
16 May 2009 4:16 p.m. EDT

HOUSTON ? Spacewalkers Johns Grunsfeld and Andrew Feustel have returned to the Atlantis? airlock and begun repressurizing it, officially ending today?s spacewalk repairs of the Hubble Space Telescope.

Total spacewalking time: 6 hours, 36 minutes. Just about right on time after two previous spacewalks that went long.

Click here for a look at today?s intricate spacewalk.

Today is Flight Day 6 of Atlantis? 11-day mission to the Hubble Space Telescope.

NASA is broadcasting Atlantis? STS-125 mission to the Hubble Space Telescope on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

- Tariq Malik

Spacewalkers Clean Up After Tough Job
16 May 2009 3:37 p.m. EDT

HOUSTON ? Spacewalkers Johns Grunsfeld and Andrew Feustel are cleaning up their tools after their unprecedented repair of Hubble?s Advanced Camera for Surveys and installing a new spectrograph. Feustel is still on the shuttle?s arm while Grunsfeld stows some of the tools he used earlier to fix the broken camera.

Click here for a look at today?s intricate spacewalk.

Today is Flight Day 6 of Atlantis? 11-day mission to the Hubble Space Telescope.

NASA is broadcasting Atlantis? STS-125 mission to the Hubble Space Telescope on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

- Tariq Malik

Spacewalkers Finish Hubble Camera Fix
16 May 2009 3:13 p.m. EDT

HOUSTON ? Spacewalkers Johns Grunsfeld and Andrew Feustel patched the new electronics box they installed in Hubble?s Advanced Camera for Surveys into a new power source, completing today?s repair job on the vital camera.

Engineers on Earth will try to power it up in a so-called ?aliveness test? within the next hour or so. They are scrambling to catch up to the spacewalkers, who completed the unprecedented camera fix nearly an hour ahead of schedule.

Click here for a look at today?s intricate spacewalk.

Today is Flight Day 6 of Atlantis? 11-day mission to the Hubble Space Telescope.

NASA is broadcasting Atlantis? STS-125 mission to the Hubble Space Telescope on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

- Tariq Malik

Spacewalker Installs New Electronics in Hubble Camera
16 May 2009 2:44 p.m. EDT

HOUSTON ? Spacewalker John Grunsfeld has successfully installed a new set of electronics cards inside Hubble?s Advanced Camera for Surveys. The cards are packaged in a single module, which he slipped into the slot where he removed four old cards earlier.

Click here for a look at today?s intricate spacewalk.

Today is Flight Day 6 of Atlantis? 11-day mission to the Hubble Space Telescope.

NASA is broadcasting Atlantis? STS-125 mission to the Hubble Space Telescope on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

- Tariq Malik

Spacewalker Removes Hubble Camera Cards
16 May 2009 2:30 p.m. EDT

HOUSTON ? Spacewalker John Grunsfeld has successfully removed all four of the electronics cards from the Advanced Camera for Surveys.

?Card 4 is out. Woohoo!? he cheered as it came out. His spacewalking partner Andrew Feustel is perched on the shuttle Atlantis? robotic arm to retrieve more gear for today?s spacewalk repair.

Click here for a look at today?s intricate spacewalk.

Today is Flight Day 6 of Atlantis? 11-day mission to the Hubble Space Telescope.

NASA is broadcasting Atlantis? STS-125 mission to the Hubble Space Telescope on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

- Tariq Malik

Spacewalker Removes Hubble Camera?s Computer Cards
16 May 2009 2:19 p.m. EDT

HOUSTON ? Spacewalker John Grunsfeld is now removing the four computer cards inside the Advanced Camera for Surveys. The repair is apparently going extremely well, with Mission Control giving Atlantis astronauts the go ahead to complete the entire fix, rather than breaking it up into two spacewalks.

Click here for a look at today?s intricate spacewalk.

Today is Flight Day 6 of Atlantis? 11-day mission to the Hubble Space Telescope.

NASA is broadcasting Atlantis? STS-125 mission to the Hubble Space Telescope on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

- Tariq Malik

Spacewalker Removes Tiny Screws on Hubble
16 May 2009 2:05 p.m. EDT

HOUSTON ? Spacewalker John Grunsfeld has opened up Hubble?s broken camera and gained access to its four electronics cards, which he?ll replace during today?s spacewalk. He removed 32 tiny screws earlier, making sure none of them escaped. It went smoothly.

?Yay!? Grunsfeld cheered as the first screw came out. The astronauts have compared their work to performing brain surgery in bulky gloves. ?Somehow, I don?t think brain surgeons go ?yahoo? when they pull something out.?

Click here for a look at today?s intricate spacewalk.

Today is Flight Day 6 of Atlantis? 11-day mission to the Hubble Space Telescope.

NASA is broadcasting Atlantis? STS-125 mission to the Hubble Space Telescope on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

- Tariq Malik

Spacewalker Removes Tiny Screws on Hubble
16 May 2009 1:52 p.m. EDT

HOUSTON ? Spacewalker John Grunsfeld is now remove 32 screws from a cover plate blocking his access to the electronics cards inside Hubble?s stricken Advanced Camera for Surveys. The screws are captured inside a specially designed enclosure.

Click here for a look at today?s intricate spacewalk.

Today is Flight Day 6 of Atlantis? 11-day mission to the Hubble Space Telescope.

NASA is broadcasting Atlantis? STS-125 mission to the Hubble Space Telescope on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

- Tariq Malik

Spacewalker Removes Grid From Hubble Camera
16 May 2009 1:35 p.m. EDT

HOUSTON ? Spacewalkers John Grunsfeld has removed a grid cover blocking his access t