Advertisement

Atlantis begins its 11-day Hubble mission

STS 125 Mission Specialist 4, Mike Massamino poses for media prior to departing for Launch Complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center, Florida on May 11, 2009. Space Shuttle Atlantis' eleven day mission is the final shuttle flight to NASA's Hubble Space Telescope. (UPI Photo/Joe Marino - Bill Cantrell)
1 of 15 | STS 125 Mission Specialist 4, Mike Massamino poses for media prior to departing for Launch Complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center, Florida on May 11, 2009. Space Shuttle Atlantis' eleven day mission is the final shuttle flight to NASA's Hubble Space Telescope. (UPI Photo/Joe Marino - Bill Cantrell) | License Photo

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla., May 11 (UPI) -- Space shuttle Atlantis lifted off Monday from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, en route to provide the final servicing of the Hubble Space Telescope.

Veteran astronaut Scott Altman commands the STS-125 mission, with retired Navy Capt. Gregory Johnson serving as pilot. The crew also includes veteran spacewalkers John Grunsfeld and Mike Massimino, and first-time space fliers Andrew Feustel, Michael Good and Megan McArthur.

Advertisement

During the 11-day mission the National Aeronautics and Space Administration astronauts will perform five spacewalks, installing two new instruments, repairing two inactive ones and making component replacements that will keep the telescope functioning until at least 2014.

The servicing mission, the fifth, is designed to update Hubble, which has been in operation for 19 years. NASA said Hubble, after it is upgraded, will be 100 times as powerful as it was when it went into orbit in April 1990.

Latest Headlines