Hubble is released from the space shuttle Discovery during its last servicing in December 1999. Photo: Spaceflight Now/NASA TV

Three astronauts have been named to complete the STS-109 crew already in training for a mission that will feature five spacewalks to upgrade NASA's Hubble Space Telescope in late 2001. The space walking astronauts will install an a powerful new camera, a more efficient set of solar arrays, a new power control unit and a device to mechanically cool an infrared science instrument.

Scott Altman, (Cmdr., USN), a two-time shuttle veteran, will command the STS-109 mission. He will be joined on the flight deck by pilot Duane Carey, (Lt. Col., USAF), making his first space flight, and flight engineer Nancy Currie (Lt. Col., USA, Ph.D.). Currie has three previous space flights to her credit.

They join the previously assigned crew members, payload commander John Grunsfeld, James Newman, Richard Linnehan and Michael Massimino.

STS-109 will mark Altman's first flight as Commander, having previously flown as pilot on STS-90 in 1998 and STS-106 in 2000. Currie, who brings extensive experience as flight engineer and robotic arm operator, flew on STS-57 in 1993, STS-70 in 1995, and STS-88 in 1998. A space rookie, Carey was selected as an astronaut in 1996.

Grunsfeld has flown three times, STS-67 in 1995, STS-81 in 1997, and STS-103 in 1999 when he performed two spacewalks to service the Hubble Space Telescope. Newman, veteran of three space flights, STS-51 in 1993, STS-69 in 1995, and STS-88 in 1998, has conducted four previous spacewalks. Linnehan flew on STS-78 in 1996 and STS-90 in 1998. Massimino is a member of the 1996 astronaut class.