CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla., May 12, 2009
NASA Examining Nicks On Shuttle Tiles
Damage From Atlantis Launch Debris Will Be Analyzed Further But Does Not Appear To Be Serious
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Play CBS Video Video Shuttle Atlantis Launch Space shuttle Atlantis blasted off without any problem on an 11-day mission to repair the hubble space telescope. The crew is scheduled to install and repair positioning gyroscopes on the scope.
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Video 2009: A Hubble Space Odyssey Since 1990, the Hubble Space Telescope has provided unprecedented insight about the cosmos. Now, as Daniel Sieberg reports, NASA astronauts are now on a mission to repair the device.
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Video Shuttle Launches Successfully To Hubble Shuttle Atlantis has launched successfully for its mission to repair the Hubble Space Telescope. Bill Harwood, CBS News Space Consultant, discusses the mission and what the astronauts hope to achieve.
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The space shuttle Atlantis lifts off at Cape Canaveral's Kennedy Space Center, May 11, 2009. (NASA)
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Near-perfect weather was forecast for the afternoon liftoff, and it didn't disappoint. (NASA)
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The 11-day mission comes with a higher risk than usual: Atlantis will be flying in an unusually high orbit - 350 miles up - where space is more littered with debris. (NASA)
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The crew of Atlantis (from right, commander Scott D. Altman; pilot Gregory C. Johnson; mission specialist K. Megan McArthur; mission specialist John Grunsfeld; mission specialist Andrew Feustel; mission specialist Michael Good; and mission specialist Michael Massimino) leaves the Operations and Checkout building at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., May 11, 2009. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
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Interactive The Hubble Get an inside look at the Hubble space telescope and see some extraordinary images taken through its eye.
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Interactive Shuttle Era Follow the history of America's space shuttle program.
They were inspecting their ship Tuesday for signs of launch damage when they came across the nicks. Mission Control informed the crew that it's a 21-inch stretch of nicks over four to five thermal tiles on the right side of Atlantis. The damage is where the right wing joins the fuselage.
Mission Control says it could be related to debris that came off the fuel tank almost two minutes after liftoff.
NASA says the damage does not appear to be serious, but more analysis is needed.
CBS News correspondent Daniel Seiberg reports a far more serious debris strike on a very sensitive part of the wing is what crippled Columbia's heat shield in 2003, causing it to break up during re-entry. All seven astronauts onboard were killed.
Atlantis blasted off Monday on a risky repair mission to the Hubble Space Telescope. Endeavour is on standby in case a rescue is needed.
This final trip to Hubble is especially dangerous because of all the space junk in the telescope's 350-mile-high orbit. Atlantis seems to have come through its launch fairly well, at least. But the analysis is continuing.
Photos: Atlantis Blasts OffAtlantis will catch up to Hubble on Wednesday.
The 19-year-old Hubble, last visited by astronauts seven years ago, is way overdue for a tune-up. The space telescope was launched amid considerable hoopla in 1990, but quickly found to be nearsighted because of a flawed mirror. Corrective lenses were installed in 1993 during what NASA's science mission chief Ed Weiler calls the "miracle in space" mission.
The results were stunning and included the acclaimed "pillars of creation" image of Eagle Nebula, a star-forming region 6,500 light years away.
On this fifth and final repair mission, Atlantis' crew will replace Hubble's batteries and gyroscopes, install two new cameras and take a crack at fixing two broken science instruments, something never before attempted. Those instruments, loaded with bolts and fasteners, were not designed to be tinkered with in space.
They also will remove the command and data-handling unit that failed in September and had to be revived, and put in a spare that was hustled into operation. Fresh insulating covers will be added to the outside of the telescope, and a new fine guidance sensor for pointing will be hooked up.
Five spacewalks will be needed to accomplish everything. The work is so tricky and intricate that two of the repairmen are Hubble veterans, John Grunsfeld and Michael Massimino. Grunsfeld, the chief repairman, is making an unprecedented third trip to the telescope.
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Add a Comment See all 18 Comments
- NASA won't be happy until they kill another crew.
- Reply to this comment
- grabandgo: these idiots shouldn't even be out there risking lives.
That's what they told Magellan, Columbus, Perry, and a thousand other explorers. Good thing they didn't listen. - Reply to this comment
- "...The fact is, even on our moon and Mars, radiation and EM fields are going to be a problem for any kind of long-term stay...."--- Posted by Void_Master
Not really the case since the obvious solution is to go underground. Just go to some reasonably sized crater and dig straight into the side. - Reply to this comment
- Ribbie149 - right on! - trying to get the Bible thumper's to understand what you are saying is like pounding a railroad spike with a #2 pencil -- if you have 12,500 years maybe, but hey ostriches place their heads in the sand because of instinct.
- Reply to this comment
- I hope the astronauts took the putty, superglue and the duct tape along.
- Reply to this comment
- But haven't all these been occurring since the beginning of civilization?
Posted by displeased
Yes they have. But several things had to happen first. Take the two witnesses, the Bible says the entire world will see them witness for 3 1/2 years, this was not possible at any other time in history. It is now with instant news from around the world. The jewish people had to be back in their homeland, that didn't happen until this century. The world has to turn its back on Israel, that is happening now. The moral decline that had to happen has been happening for awhile, but has gone farther this century. The great falling away of the church has only happened in the last few decades. All of these things had to happen first. Then when we see the wars and the disease and the natural disasters and famine, we will know that the time is close. - Reply to this comment
- Well, gee, if we are in the END TIMES why worry about achieving ANYTHING during our lives? Why worry about the environment or global warming if it is God's master plan to pull the plug? I would place more credibility in "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" than large sections of the Bible (a wonderful book, but written and edited by MEN). I wish you yahoos who believe in the End Times and the Rapture would just stay away from topics that involve science and facts and stick to your superstitious world view.
BTW, our astronauts are risking their lives to fix the Hubble Telescope for the same reason ALL explorers take chances- to increase the breadth of human knowlege and experience. If you don't get that, I suggest you go back to watching American Idol and have a beer and above all, don't ever do ANYTHING that would require you to think or be creative in any way. Life is so much easier that way.
ribbie149 - Reply to this comment
- Hi holy-joe-722,
I truly respect your response and opinion. (btw, thanks for your service in WWII - you took part in a very great deed that helped change the course of events in a profound way)
I'm sorry I cannot go into detail here, as I have much more to say on all these topics, but I hope you will consider the following:
First, I'm not trying to convince anyone. I'm not a fanatic or religious nut at all. It's not a "philosophy" as I see it. It's something that will either prove true very soon or not. You can watch for yourself, obviously.
False prophets? YES! I'm well aware of what many (often abusive and extremely fanatical) Christians say about this. I, myself, grew up in a very Catholic environment.
Look around the world over the last few decades: There are tons of false christs that have emerged over the years. Many deluded individuals who have come forth in the public. Maitreya, the Christ, or World Teacher, has not come into the public saying "I'm the Christ, follow me, do this..." It won't be like that.
He came like a "theif in the night" in 1977 when nobody noticed. In an aeroplane "from the clouds" to fulfill the prophecies, but you have to do that in a modern way. It's the 21'st century.
You say "he doesn't want us standing around waiting for His return, He wants us proclaiming the Good News of salvation"
....I say, PRECISELY! You may have a completely incorrect interpretation of me. I'm not standing around waiting. I'm trying to help pass on to the public the Good News that these are not the "end times"...well, yes it's the end of a dying age of greed and ignorance, but not the world. It's really a beginning of a new, golden age of truth ahead.
We are about to embark on a whole new path, toward a world where people are not fighting against each other for their "God", out of fierce cut-throat competitive divisions...
but rather one where we learn to find balance in our economy, political structures...where economic and social justice creates a more sustainable world, where nations finally trust each other..
Christ taught sharing 2,000 yrs ago. It's amazing that Christians blast the idea that he could want to teach it again, now in a global sense...only this time with a much more sophisticated and intelligent world where the masses are already rising up, where "people power" is increasing every day.
www.WakeUpMankind.org - Reply to this comment
- We may have to do a moon near Jupiter instead...provided we can get there and learn to live on the ice
Posted by mjlewis6
And harvest some of that liquid and metallic hydrogen that Jupiter is supposedly loaded with.
Posted by displeased
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All good ideas. However, we are going to have to dramatically improve on radiation shielding before we visit Jupiter with a manned mission. With the type of limited shielding we have available now, the planet's magnetosphere would kill anyone who got any closer than Elara. And even at that range, the magnetosphere is strong enough to kill.
The fact is, even on our moon and Mars, radiation and EM fields are going to be a problem for any kind of long-term stay. As much as I hope I get to go off-world some day, I honestly do not think long-term encampment will happen for a century or so.
Then again, that makes this sort of research all the more necessary. - Reply to this comment
- Bud, we have got to solve the medical issues FIRST:
bone loss and muscle tissue degeration for even the shortest of these 10 day and several month trips out there....Astronauts, Cosmonauts....Japanese and Chinese...
there is no distinction by race or nationality...there is a REAL problem on maintaining
LIFE on a long trip....so, yes, Fix the Hubble and Clean up the debris if possible.
--
So employ artificial gravity. Read Zubrin's book. - Reply to this comment
- these idiots shouldn't even be out there risking lives.
- Reply to this comment
- While it does not tell us what the specific sign will be or the actual time table, it does tell us of false prophets, wars, famines, and natural disasters.
Posted by holy-joe-722
But haven't all these been occurring since the beginning of civilization? - Reply to this comment
- Rather interesting article. I wondered why the media kept making references to the dangerous nature of this mission. Let's pray for their safe return from the junk-filled region that they are working in.
(Wonder if they get extra "hazard pay" for this one!!!) - Reply to this comment
- Global Eye:
While I can understand your views, I must post a rebuttal.
Share International claims this to be a sign that the Maitreya (also referred to as Christ, Messiah, Krishna, Imam Mahdi and others by S-I) has returned and living in London.
While I don't profess to know anything in depth about the other religions, Christianity and the Bible state:
Jesus answered: "Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.
"No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
Matthew 24:4-8, 36 (N.I.V.)
We may or may not in the "end times". The Bible tells us to be prepared at all times. While it does not tell us what the specific sign will be or the actual time table, it does tell us of false prophets, wars, famines, and natural disasters. He doesn't want us standing around waiting for His return, He wants us proclaiming the Good News of salvation.
From what I have read about S-I, they are teaching a "one size fits all" philosophy shaped to fit the teachings of most major religions while forgetting the fact that most religions reach that their views are the only true and correct ones. S-I contradicts this point at every turn.
(also, my handle "Holy Joe 722" is a reference to a WWII squadron, not any indication that I think I am more right, better, or holier than anyone). - Reply to this comment
- Speaking of astronomy and objects in space...
WATCH FOR A MYSTERIOUS STAR-LIKE LUMINARY, OFTEN CHANGING COLORS, TO APPEAR in the day and night time sky. It's being seen and videotaped already by many people in many countries.
It is a sign of something extraordinary about to happen!
Below are excerpts from the latest Q&A on Share International's website:
Q. I saw the photograph of the ?star? on your website, taken from New Zealand. If something unusual is spotted in our skies, it is normally all over radio talkback programmes and the media, immediately. Not a squeak so far!
If this ?star? has been seen from so many countries, it amazes me that astronomers haven?t been speaking out and discussing it, by now! The fact that they are not, seems illogical.
I have been searching in vain for comment from the local astronomy community. The deafening silence does not inspire confidence! I hope with all my heart that there is such a ?star? but for now I?m finding it hard to accept!
A. I agree. It is quite extraordinary, this media and professional silence. The ?star? is seen all over the world, sometimes even in broad daylight, yet the media and astronomers alike refuse to speak about it. It begins to look as though they are following instructions from somewhere.
Q. I have been reading about the ?star? sign on your website. I asked my uncle about the new star but he was unable to find anything more about it, even though he has some fairly advanced telescopes and photography equipment. He cannot find the star in the sky (he lives in Toronto, Canada). Is there any way you can release some astronomical information on this ?star? so we can get a better look at it? I know you already have some photographs on your website though they do not seem to contain enough context to determine where the ?star? is.
A. Look for a star-like brilliant light which changes colour, moves and sometimes just disappears. It is not a real astronomical ?star? but a spaceship. - Reply to this comment
- We may have to do a moon near Jupiter instead...provided we can get there and learn to live on the ice
Posted by mjlewis6
And harvest some of that liquid and metallic hydrogen that Jupiter is supposedly loaded with. - Reply to this comment
- Former President Bush wanted to let Hubble crash and burn....to point our space objectives towards MARS.....Bud, we have got to solve the medical issues FIRST:
bone loss and muscle tissue degeration for even the shortest of these 10 day and several month trips out there....Astronauts, Cosmonauts....Japanese and Chinese...
there is no distinction by race or nationality...there is a REAL problem on maintaining
LIFE on a long trip....so, yes, Fix the Hubble and Clean up the debris if possible.
Both Low and High Earth Orbit are our laboratory, and just like our air and water sources....keep it clean...We need to see what we have to deal with and if we can ever go out there......much less, Mars....We may have to do a moon near Jupiter instead...provided we can get there and learn to live on the ice - Reply to this comment
- AWE-SOME! Good luck NASA I hope this goes better than expected. This is the right Stuff. No other nation in the world has or will have this kind of ability in the near future. This is what has put th US in the U.S. It sure would be nice if in the next 10 years we made it to Mars %0 years after the landing on the moon would be a great challenge Go America!
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