Slashdot Mirror
Atlantis Links Up To Hubble For Repairs
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."
Is that like an epileptic version of a lazy susan? I don't even know how you make a typo like that without having some sort of seizure.
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.
If Slashdot allowed image posting, this is where I'd post that picture from "UHF" where all the Asian dudes come out of the closet and yell "SUPPLIES!"
But I can't do that, so the point is probably moo.
So they're going 17,200mph relative to the surface of the Earth? How fast are they going relative to some arbitrarily fixed point in the universe? Relative to another galaxy, we're hurtling towards it at some million mph, so maybe count that in as well.
I am reaching for my pop can while we travel at over 1 million miles per hour. SUCCESS! POP CAN LINKUP COMPLETE!
I can't do that, so the point is probably moo.
t
Hi, you dropped this while typing your post. I thought you might want it back.
I used to bullseye wamprats in my T16 back home and they're not much bigger than the hubble
"flying through space at 17,200 MPH, 300 miles above the Earth's surface. " Not impressive.
Then let's see you do it.
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.