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Atlantis Links Up To Hubble For Repairs

Posted by timothy on from the hey-baby-I-see-the-stars-in-your-eyes dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Space Shuttle Atlantis has finally caught up with the Hubble Space Telescope after following it for several hours. The 'link up' between the Space Shuttle and Hubble was a very delicate one as the two were flying through space at 17,200 MPH, 300 miles above the Earth's surface. The robotic arm of the shuttle grappled the telescope at 1:14 PM EDT today. The telescope will be latched to a high-tech Lazy Susan device known as the Flight Support System for the duration of the servicing work."

6 of 132 comments (clear)

  1. How about Relative Speed? by smallshot · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Why do these articles always tell us how difficult it was to do something in space because they are going so ridiculously fast? When taken relatively, they were practically sitting still while docking.

    I know there are all kinds of other factors and I know it takes a lot of math to even get to the right orbit at the right time and speed to even see the Hubble, but after that, it ought to be relatively simple considering the lack of any unwanted or unexpected force on the crafts. I'm pretty sure it's much more difficult to land a jet on an air craft carrier, but I wouldn't know for sure.

  2. 17,000 mph by line-bundle · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Do people just look for big numbers to sound impressive??

    The important number is the relative speed between Hubble and the shuttle. From my very precise calculation it was zero.

    1. Re:17,000 mph by timeOday · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Ah, no, the Shuttle actually did have to accelerate to 17000 mph from when it took off until it docked, with precise positioning. It's by no means easy, only a few nations are capable of it. I thought the X-Prize was pretty cool, but for that matter, they never even reach orbit.

  3. Re:Relative speeds by Luyseyal · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I think you have it backwards. He understood that there is no actual fixed reference. He just meant that choosing the earth as a reference point didn't help one determine whether the linkage was difficult or not. Short answer: cut him some slack.

    Delta-V, FTW!
    -l

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  4. Re:Speed figures are meaningless by MouseR · · Score: 3, Insightful

    You make it sound as if it was simple.

    Of course, relative speed from the Shuttle to Hubbles is tiny.

    But to match their relative speed from the ground is still pretty hard. Getting the shuttle from zero MPH to 17,000+MPH within inches of the Hubble so that their own relative speed nears zero for a dock is by all means, pretty neat stuff.

    And for that, I go Oooh.

  5. Re:impressive/not impressive by snspdaarf · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Sure! Take mine. It's not being used for its original purpose right now anyway.

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