{"id":12780,"date":"2024-12-20T12:17:08","date_gmt":"2024-12-20T16:17:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/zobi.alcowep.com\/bourtagshdrevxnls658739\/25-years-ago-sts-103-the-hubble-servicing-mission-3a\/"},"modified":"2024-12-20T12:17:08","modified_gmt":"2024-12-20T16:17:08","slug":"25-years-ago-sts-103-the-hubble-servicing-mission-3a","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/zobi.alcowep.com\/bourtagshdrevxnls658739\/25-years-ago-sts-103-the-hubble-servicing-mission-3a\/","title":{"rendered":"25 Years Ago: STS-103, The Hubble Servicing Mission-3A"},"content":{"rendered":"

25 Years Ago: STS-103, The Hubble Servicing Mission-3A<\/h2>\n

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\u00a0\u201cTrying to do stellar observations from Earth is like trying to do birdwatching from the bottom of a lake.\u201d<\/em> James B. Odom, Hubble Program Manager 1983-1990.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

The third servicing mission to the Hubble Space Telescope, placed in orbit in 1990, occurred during the STS-103 mission in December 1999. During the mission, originally planned for June 2000 but accelerated by six months following unexpected failures of the telescope\u2019s attitude control gyroscopes, the astronauts restored the facility to full functionality. During their eight-day mission that featured the first space shuttle crew to spend Christmas in space<\/a>, the seven-member U.S. and European crew rendezvoused with and captured Hubble, and four astronauts in rotating teams of two conducted three lengthy and complex spacewalks to service and upgrade the telescope. They redeployed the telescope with greater capabilities than ever before to continue its mission to help scientists unlock the secrets of the universe.<\/p>\n

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\"Schematic<\/figure>
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Schematic showing the Hubble Space Telescope\u2019s major components. <\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n
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\"A<\/figure>
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Workers inspect the Hubble Space Telescope\u2019s 94-inch diameter primary mirror prior to assembly. <\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n
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\"The<\/figure>
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Astronauts release the Hubble Space Telescope in April 1990 during the STS-31 mission.<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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