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- Space Shuttle Atlantis launched from Kennedy Space Center on May 11, 2009 at 2: 01 p.m.
- Mission number: STS-125
- Crew to perform maintenance on the Hubble Space Telescope
- Planned spacewalks: 5
- Planned days in space: 11
- Commander: Scott Altman
- Crew: Megan McArthur, Michael T. Good, Gregory C. Johnson, John Grunsfeld, Michael Massimino, Andrew Feustel
- Long-delayed mission originally planned for 2004
- First maintenance trip to Hubble since 2002
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Embarking on a long-delayed trip to service the Hubble Space Telescope, the Space Shuttle Atlantis had a smooth launch from Kennedy Space Center on May 11, 2009 at 2:01 p.m. The crew, headed by commander Scott Altman, will perform improvements on the Hubble that will make it 100 times more powerful and keep it powered for at least five years.*National Geographic: Shuttle Launch Successful; Final Hubble Repairs Await (May 11, 2009)
Atlantis spacewalker Mike Massimino will make Twitter posts from space. It will be the first time an astronaut has done so. Massimino's Twitter user name is "Astro_Mike."
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Hubble Improvements
Prior to the Atlantis' maintenance mission, the last time the Hubble Telescope had been serviced was 2002. Improvements performed by the Atlantis crew will allow the telescope to examine cosmic mysteries—including the universe's elusive "dark matter" and the formation of galaxies—more deeply than before.*National Geographic: Shuttle Launch Successful; Final Hubble Repairs Await (May 11, 2009)Endeavor Misson, November 2008
The Space Shuttle Endeavour launched from Cape Canaveral on November 14, 2008and headed to the International Space Station on a remodeling mission. The crew refitted the ISS so it could house six astronauts instead of only three and installed a recycling system that turns urine into drinking water. The crew also conducted spacewalks in order to perform maintenance on the the solar arrays that power the station. Crew member Sandra Magnus switched places with space station resident Greg Chamitoff.CBS Canada: NASA readies for nighttime shuttle launch (November 14, 2008)-
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Shuttle Launch Questions
What do I need to do to see a shuttle launch 1 Answerthe 2009 shuttle missions are currently targeted for the following dates: * Discovery, August 6, 2009 * Atlantis, November 12, 2009 * Endeavour, ... read more
How to follow the Shuttle Launch on the internet? 1 AnswerOn twitter, follow Astronaut Mike Massimino (Astro_Mike) or NASA's twitter account (@NASA). Otherwise, check out NASAtv at http://www.youtube.com/NASATelevision read more
Which will happen first: Shuttle Endeavor launch or NASA retiring the shuttle program? 1 AnswerShuttle Endeavor launch. (Canceling the shuttle is probably a political bluff on NASA's part, just like plans to de-orbit the ISS. Congress always comes around ... read more
Why cant the space shuttle change orbits? 3 AnswersTwo completely different orbits. Different speeds. Different inclinations. The shuttle (or any orbiting craft) is launched in a manner to place it in it's fin... read more -


