sims@stsci.EDU (Jim Sims) (10/11/89)
REPRODUCED ENTIRELY WITHOUT PERMISSION
Dave Drachlis
Marshall Space Flight Center Oct. 6, l989
RELEASE NO: 89-209
HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE MOVES TOWARD LAUNCH
One of the world's premier, space-based astronomical
observatories, scheduled to study the universe for the rest of
this century and beyond, was moved a giant step closer to the
launch pad this week -- literally 2,000 miles closer.
NASA's Hubble Space Telescope was transported from its
assembly contractor, Lockheed Missiles and Space Co. in Sunnyvale,
Calif., to the Kennedy Space Center, Fla., where it will be
prepared for launch aboard the Space Shuttle this Spring.
The 43-foot-long, 24,000-pound telescope made the cross
country trip aboard a U.S. Air Force transport aircraft.
"The move was flawless, and all indications are that the
telescope made the trip in fine shape." reported telescope project
manager Fred Wojtalik of the Marshall Space Flight Center in
Huntsville, Ala. "The Hubble is a precious scientific resource,
and a sensitive instrument, and it will be the largest orbiting
astronomical observatory ever built. Any move is a delicate job.
I congratulate everyone who supported the effort," said Wojtalik.
The move involved the coordinated efforts of literally hundreds of
people from a number of organizations, including Lockheed, the
Marshall Center, the Kennedy Space Center, and the Air Force.
The telescope departed Sunnyvale at Tuesday evening and
arrived at Kennedy Wednesday morning. It was then transferred to
the Vertical Processing Facility at Kennedy where it will undergo
final launch preparations over the next five months.
The telescope is scheduled for launch aboard the Space
Shuttle orbiter Discovery on March 26. Following deployment,
activation, and checkout, it will study the universe for 15 years
or longer.
From above the Earth's obscuring atmosphere, it will "see"
planets, stars, and other objects in the universe about 10 times
better than now possible with the best telescopes on the ground.
The Hubble Space Telescope is a product of international
cooperation and is a major scientific resource that will be shared
by scientists around the world. It will help astronomers answer
key questions about the universe -- How big is it? How do stars
and galaxies form and evolve? What are other planets in our solar
system like? Do other, as yet undiscovered, planets exist?
The Hubble Space Telescope was developed by the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration, under the Office of Space
Science and Applications at NASA Headquarters in Washington D.C.
The Marshall Center has been responsible for design and
development of the telescope and for its verification on orbit.
Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland, developed the
science instruments and will operate the telescope and manage the
Space Telescope Science Institute. The European Space Agency has
provided the power producing solar arrays and one of the science
instruments. The Johnson Space Center, Houston, is training crews
for the launch, deployment and maintenance of the telescope and
will be in charge of Shuttle mission operations. The Kennedy
Space Center will process the telescope for launch aboard the
Shuttle. The Space Telescope Science Institute, located at Johns
Hopkins University in Baltimore, will be responsible for the
telescope's observing agenda.
--
Jim Sims Space Telescope Science Institute Baltimore, MD
UUCP: {arizona,decvax,hao}!noao!stsci!sims
INTERNET: sims@stsci.edu SPAM: SCIVAX::SIMSmarksm@syma.sussex.ac.uk (Mark S Madsen) (10/12/89)
In article <856@stsci.edu> sims@stsci.EDU (Jim Sims) writes: (Interesting, but lengthy quotes deleted.) > "The move was flawless, and all indications are that the > telescope made the trip in fine shape." reported telescope project > manager Fred Wojtalik of the Marshall Space Flight Center in > Huntsville, Ala. "The Hubble is a precious scientific resource, > and a sensitive instrument, and it will be the largest orbiting ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^ > astronomical observatory ever built. Any move is a delicate job. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^ "EVER WILL BE" ??????????????????????????????????? BUT HOW DO THEY KNOW ????????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!????????????? :-) :-) :-) > Jim Sims Space Telescope Science Institute Baltimore, MD Querulously, Mark -- ####################################################################### ## Mark S. Madsen #### marksm@syma.sussex.ac.uk ################### #### Astronomy Centre, University of Sussex, Brighton BN1 9QH, UK. ## #################### Life's a bitch. Then you die. #################