Spaceflight Now




Spaceflight Now +



Subscribe to Spaceflight Now Plus for access to our extensive video collections!
How do I sign up?
Video archive

STS-125: The mission

A detailed step-by-step preview of space shuttle Atlantis' STS-125 mission to extend the life and vision of the Hubble Space Telescope.

 Play

STS-125: The EVAs

The lead spacewalk officer provides indepth explanations of the five EVAs to service Hubble during Atlantis' flight.

 Play

STS-125: The crew

The seven shuttle Atlantis astronauts hold a press conference one month before their planned launch to Hubble.

 Play

STS-125: NASA leaders

The leaders of NASA's Space Operations and Science directorates give their insights into the upcoming shuttle mission to the Hubble Space Telescope.

 Play

STS-125: Shuttle boss

The head of NASA's space shuttle program discusses the risks and plans for Atlantis' trek to Hubble.

 Play

The Hubble program

An overview of the Hubble Space Telescope program and the planning that has gone into the final servicing mission.

 Play

Hubble's future science

The new instruments to be installed into Hubble and the future science objectives for the observatory are previewed.

 Play

Meet the Hubble crew

Meet the crew launching on Atlantis' STS-125 mission to service the Hubble Space Telescope and learn how each became an astronaut in this special biography movie.

 Play

Become a subscriber
More video



Off-duty time for astronauts following Hubble upgrade
BY WILLIAM HARWOOD
STORY WRITTEN FOR CBS NEWS "SPACE PLACE" & USED WITH PERMISSION
Posted: May 20, 2009

With the Hubble Space Telescope safely on its way after a successful overhaul, the Atlantis astronauts are enjoying a day off Wednesday, relaxing after five back-to-back spacewalks. A replay of video from camera mounted in the shuttle's twin solid-fuel boosters is expected at 9 a.m., followed by a traditional crew news conference at 10:26 a.m.


The astronauts are getting off-duty time today to look out the window and relax. Credit: NASA
 
LeRoy Cain, chairman of NASA's Mission Management Team, is scheduled to brief reporters at 4 p.m. on the results of a detailed heat shield inspection carried out by the astronauts Tuesday, after Hubble's release. As of early Wednesday, the assessment was about 70 percent complete.

Because the Atlantis astronauts cannot seek "safe haven" aboard the International Space Station if major problems develop that might prevent a safe re-entry, the shuttle Endeavour has been poised atop pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center, ready since Monday for the start of a three-day countdown to launch if needed.

In a change of plans, mission managers have decided not to release Endeavour from rescue stand-by duty until Atlantis completes its deorbit rocket firing Friday. Touchdown at the Kennedy Space Center is targeted for 10:01 a.m.

Atlantis is now late in its mission, and on-board supplies will be in relatively short supply by the time the shuttle heads home Friday. If a major problem develops in the final stages of the flight, NASA would need to get Endeavour off the ground as fast as possible. As a result, engineers started a countdown at 6 a.m. Wednesday to make sure the ship can be launched in time if needed.

If the MMT clears Atlantis' heat shield for entry, the countdown will go into an extended "hold" before the start of fuel cell loading early Thursday and again early Friday if no problems develop. After Atlantis drops out of orbit, Endeavour will be released from rescue stand by and engineers will begin processing the shuttle for launch June 13 on a space station assembly mission.

NASA originally planned to release Endeavour from stand-by duty after Atlantis' late inspection. In any case, no major problems have been found so far with Atlantis and mission managers are gearing up for a normal landing Friday.

The biggest concern at this point is the weather, with forecasters predicting a chance of showers within 30 nautical miles of the runway. To give the crew an additional morning opportunity, and a better chance of beating afternoon clouds and showers, the astronauts Tuesday lowered one side of the shuttle's 350-mile-high circular orbit to 184 miles. Along with reducing the odds of a space debris impact by about 15 percent, the orbit adjustment brought in an earlier landing opportunity Friday.

The astronauts now have three possible landing opportunities on successive orbits Friday, but only the first two likely would be used.

Here is an updated timeline of today's activity (in EDT and mission elapsed time; includes revision I of the NASA television schedule):


EDT........DD...HH...MM...EVENT

05/20/09
04:01 AM...08...14...00...Crew wakeup
07:01 AM...08...17...00...Crew off duty
09:00 AM...08...18...59...SRB camera launch footage replay on NTV
10:26 AM...08...20...25...Crew news conference
11:06 AM...08...21...05...Joint crew meal
12:06 PM...08...22...05...Shuttle-to-ISS call
12:21 PM...08...22...20...Crew off duty
04:00 PM...09...01...59...Post-MMT briefing on NTV
04:01 PM...09...02...00...HD downlink opportunity
07:01 PM...09...05...00...Crew sleep begins
08:00 PM...09...05...59...Daily video highlights reel on NTV

Spaceflight Now Plus
Additional coverage for subscribers:
VIDEO: HST SCIENTIST CRITICIZES SHUTTLE RETIREMENT PLAY
VIDEO: HUBBLE DEPLOYED FROM THE SPACE SHUTTLE PLAY
VIDEO: TUESDAY'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY
VIDEO: COMMANDER SCOTT ALTMAN'S COMMENTS AFTER DEPLOY PLAY
VIDEO: HUBBLE IS HOISTED OUT OF THE PAYLOAD BAY PLAY
VIDEO: ATLANTIS' ROBOT ARM GRAPPLES THE TELESCOPE PLAY
VIDEO: PREVIEW OF HST DEPLOY AND ATLANTIS INSPECTIONS PLAY

VIDEO: FLIGHT DAY 8 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY
VIDEO: MONDAY NIGHT UPDATE FROM HST CONTROL CENTER PLAY
VIDEO: MONDAY'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY
VIDEO: HUBBLE'S HIGH-GAIN ANTENNA BOOMS UNFOLDED PLAY
VIDEO: COVER PUT ON HUBBLE ANTENNA AS EVA CONCLUDES PLAY
VIDEO: REFLECTING ON THE MISSION AS SPACEWALK NEARS END PLAY
VIDEO: SHEET OF THERMAL COVERING ADDED TO BAY 7 DOOR PLAY
VIDEO: NEW THERMAL SHIELDING PANEL PUT ON BAY 8 DOOR PLAY
VIDEO: DEGRADED THERMAL BLANKET PEELED OFF BAY 5 DOOR PLAY
VIDEO: THE OLD FINE GUIDANCE SENSOR STOWED FOR LANDING PLAY
VIDEO: UPGRADED FINE GUIDANCE SENSOR INSTALLED IN HUBBLE PLAY
VIDEO: OLD FINE GUIDANCE SENSOR REMOVED FROM TELESCOPE PLAY
VIDEO: SPACEWALKERS STRUGGLE WITH BOLTS AND LATCHES PLAY
VIDEO: REPLACEMENT OF HUBBLE'S 19-YEAR-OLD BATTERIES PLAY
VIDEO: SPACEWALKERS EMERGE FROM AIRLOCK TO START EVA PLAY
VIDEO: NARRATED PREVIEW OF SPACEWALK NO. 5 PLAY

VIDEO: FLIGHT DAY 7 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY
VIDEO: SUNDAY NIGHT UPDATE FROM HST CONTROL CENTER PLAY
VIDEO: SUNDAY'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY
VIDEO: SPACE TELESCOPE IMAGING SPECTROGRAPH WORK DONE PLAY
VIDEO: OPENING COVER ON THE ELECTRONICS MODULE ON STIS PLAY
VIDEO: SPACEWALKER MIKE MASSIMINO REMOVES TINY SCREWS PLAY
VIDEO: TRIP FROM AIRLOCK BACK WITH SPARE POWER TOOL PLAY
VIDEO: CAPTURE PLATE MOUNTED ONTO STIS POWER MODULE PLAY
VIDEO: MASSIMINO FIGHTS WITH STUCK BOLT ON HANDRAIL PLAY
VIDEO: SPACEWALKERS GET ORGANIZED FOR STIS REPAIR PLAY
VIDEO: NARRATED PREVIEW OF SPACEWALK NO. 4 PLAY
VIDEO: FLIGHT DIRECTOR'S PREVIEW OF MISSION'S DAY 7 PLAY

VIDEO: FLIGHT DAY 6 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY
VIDEO: SATURDAY NIGHT UPDATE FROM HST CONTROL CENTER PLAY
VIDEO: SATURDAY'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY
VIDEO: REPAIR OF ADVANCED CAMERA FOR SURVEYS FINISHED PLAY
VIDEO: WATCH AS GRUNSFELD REPAIRS HUBBLE CAMERA PLAY
VIDEO: COSTAR STOWED IN ATLANTIS' PAYLOAD BAY PLAY
VIDEO: UMBILICALS HOOKED UP TO NEW INSTRUMENT PLAY
VIDEO: COSMIC ORIGINS SPECTROGRAPH INSTALLED PLAY
VIDEO: SPECTROGRAPH PREPPED IN LAUNCH CARRIER PLAY
VIDEO: COSTAR OPTICS PACKAGE REMOVED FROM HUBBLE PLAY
VIDEO: SPACEWALKERS OPEN SHROUD DOORS ON TELESCOPE PLAY
VIDEO: NARRATED PREVIEW OF SPACEWALK NO. 3 PLAY
VIDEO: FLIGHT DIRECTOR'S PREVIEW OF MISSION'S DAY 6 PLAY

VIDEO: FLIGHT DAY 5 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY
VIDEO: FRIDAY NIGHT UPDATE FROM HST CONTROL CENTER PLAY
VIDEO: FRIDAY'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY
VIDEO: SPARE GYRO UNIT INSTALLED INTO THIRD POSITION PLAY
VIDEO: ANOTHER GYROSCOPE UNIT PUT INTO SECOND SLOT PLAY
VIDEO: TROUBLE INSTALLING SECOND GYROSCOPE PACKAGE PLAY
VIDEO: REMOVAL OF SECOND GYROSCOPE PACKAGE FROM HUBBLE PLAY
VIDEO: INSTALLATION OF FIRST GYROSCOPE INTO HUBBLE PLAY
VIDEO: REMOVAL OF FIRST GYROSCOPE PACKAGE FROM HUBBLE PLAY
VIDEO: NARRATED PREVIEW OF SPACEWALK NO. 2 PLAY
VIDEO: FLIGHT DIRECTOR'S PREVIEW OF MISSION'S DAY 5 PLAY

VIDEO: FLIGHT DAY 4 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY
VIDEO: THURSDAY NIGHT UPDATE FROM HST CONTROL CENTER PLAY
VIDEO: THURSDAY'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY
VIDEO: SOFT CAPTURE MECHANISM PUT ON HUBBLE PLAY
VIDEO: SCIENCE INSTRUMENT COMMAND & DATA HANDLING UNIT PLAY
VIDEO: PARTIALLY FAILED SIC&DH UNIT REMOVED FROM HST PLAY
VIDEO: WFPC2 CAMERA STOWED IN ATLANTIS FOR RETURN PLAY
VIDEO: OVERVIEW OF WIDE FIELD CAMERA 3 INSTRUMENT PLAY
VIDEO: SPACEWALKERS INSTALL THE WIDE FIELD CAMERA 3 PLAY
VIDEO: NEW WIDE FIELD CAMERA 3 PREPPED FOR INSTALLATION PLAY
VIDEO: 16-YEAR-OLD WFPC2 CAMERA REMOVED FROM HUBBLE PLAY
VIDEO: LATCHING BOLT ON WPFC2 FINALLY RELEASED PLAY
VIDEO: FIGHTING WITH TROUBLESOME BOLT ON WPFC2 PLAY
VIDEO: FEUSTEL INSTALLS HANDLE ONTO WPFC2 FOR REMOVAL PLAY
VIDEO: HANDLING FIXTURE DEPLOYED TO HOLD OLD CAMERA PLAY
VIDEO: GRUNSFELD INSTALLS SUPPORT POSTS UNDER HST PLAY
VIDEO: FEUSTEL OPENS LATCHES ON INSTRUMENT CARRIER PLAY
VIDEO: ASTRONAUTS EXIT AIRLOCK TO START EVA NO. 1 PLAY
VIDEO: NARRATED PREVIEW OF SPACEWALK NO. 1 PLAY

VIDEO: FLIGHT DAY 3 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY
VIDEO: WEDNESDAY NIGHT UPDATE FROM HST CONTROL CENTER PLAY
VIDEO: WEDNESDAY'S MISSION MANAGEMENT TEAM UPDATE PLAY
VIDEO: WEDNESDAY'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY
VIDEO: TIME-LAPSE OF MOVING HUBBLE INTO PAYLOAD BAY PLAY
VIDEO: SHUTTLE ATLANTIS' ROBOT ARM CAPTURES HUBBLE PLAY
VIDEO: FIRST UP CLOSE VIEWS OF HUBBLE IN 7 YEARS PLAY
VIDEO: SHUTTLE ENGINE FIRING TO CIRCULARIZE ORBIT PLAY
VIDEO: INSIGHTFUL OVERVIEW OF ATLANTIS' MISSION PLAY
VIDEO: NARRATED PREVIEW ANIMATION OF HUBBLE RENDEZVOUS PLAY

VIDEO: FLIGHT DAY 2 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY
VIDEO: TUESDAY NIGHT UPDATE FROM HST CONTROL CENTER PLAY
VIDEO: TUESDAY'S MISSION MANAGEMENT TEAM UPDATE PLAY
VIDEO: SLOW-MOTION OF DEBRIS THAT APPARENTLY HIT TILES PLAY
VIDEO: TILE DAMAGE FOUND DURING INSPECTIONS PLAY
VIDEO: CAPCOM CALLS CREW ABOUT MINOR DAMAGE PLAY
VIDEO: TUESDAY'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY
VIDEO: PREVIEW ANIMATION OF HEAT SHIELD INSPECTIONS PLAY

VIDEO: FLIGHT DAY 1 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY
VIDEO: THE FULL STS-125 LAUNCH EXPERIENCE PLAY
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: EXTERNAL TANK CAMERA PLAY
VIDEO: FOOTAGE OF FUEL TANK AFTER JETTISON PLAY

VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: FRONT CAMERA PLAY
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: BEACH TRACKER PLAY
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: PAD PERIMETER PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: UCS-23 TRACKER PLAY
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: CAMERA CS-1 PLAY
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: CAMERA CS-2 PLAY
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: CAMERA CS-6 PLAY
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: VAB ROOF PLAY
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: PRESS SITE PLAY
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: WEST TOWER PLAY
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: CAMERA 009 PLAY
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: CAMERA 041 PLAY
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: CAMERA 049 PLAY
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: CAMERA 050 PLAY
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: CAMERA 051 PLAY
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: CAMERA 060 PLAY
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: CAMERA 061 PLAY
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: CAMERA 063 PLAY
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: CAMERA 070 PLAY
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: CAMERA 071 PLAY

VIDEO: SPACE SHUTTLE ATLANTIS BLASTS OFF! PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: STS-125 POST-LAUNCH NEWS CONFERENCE PLAY
VIDEO: INSIDE MISSION CONTROL DURING LAUNCH PLAY
VIDEO: NARRATED ANIMATION OF DAY 1 INSPECTIONS PLAY

VIDEO: FINAL PRE-LAUNCH READINESS POLLS CONDUCTED PLAY
VIDEO: SHUTTLE'S CREW MODULE HATCH CLOSED FOR FLIGHT PLAY
VIDEO: MISSION SPECIALIST MEGAN MCARTHUR BOARDS PLAY
VIDEO: PILOT GREG JOHNSON BOARDS ATLANTIS PLAY
VIDEO: MISSION SPECIALIST JOHN GRUNSFELD BOARDS PLAY
VIDEO: SHUTTLE COMMANDER SCOTT ALTMAN BOARDS PLAY
VIDEO: CREW DEPARTS QUARTERS FOR LAUNCH PAD PART 1 | PART 2
VIDEO: ASTRONAUTS DON SPACESUITS FOR LAUNCH PLAY
VIDEO: TIME-LAPSE OF LAUNCH PAD GANTRY ROLLBACK PLAY

VIDEO: HUBBLE'S FUTURE AFTER ATLANTIS SERVICING PLAY
VIDEO: TOP DISCOVERIES MADE BY HUBBLE TELESCOPE PLAY
VIDEO: THE ROLLERCOASTER LIFE OF HUBBLE PLAY
VIDEO: WHAT IS HUBBLE'S PLACE IN HISTORY? PLAY
VIDEO: ENTERTAINING LOOK AT ATLANTIS' CREW PLAY
VIDEO: HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE HISTORY MOVIE PLAY
VIDEO: A TRIBUTE TO THE CAMERA THAT SAVED HUBBLE PLAY
VIDEO: HUBBLE TELESCOPE PROGRAM BRIEFING FROM SUNDAY PLAY

VIDEO: SUNDAY'S COUNTDOWN STATUS AND WEATHER UPDATE PLAY
VIDEO: THE STS-125 PRE-LAUNCH NEWS CONFERENCE PLAY
VIDEO: SATURDAY'S COUNTDOWN STATUS AND WEATHER UPDATE PLAY
VIDEO: ASTRONAUTS ARRIVE AT THE CAPE FOR LAUNCH PLAY
VIDEO: FRIDAY'S COUNTDOWN STATUS AND WEATHER UPDATE PLAY

VIDEO: NEWS BRIEFING FOLLOWING FLIGHT READINESS REVIEW PLAY

VIDEO: REFRESHER BRIEFING: THE STS-125 MISSION PLAY
VIDEO: REFRESHER BRIEFING: HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE PLAY
VIDEO: REFRESHER BRIEFING: THE SEVEN ASTRONAUTS PLAY

VIDEO: BIOGRAPHY MOVIE OF ATLANTIS' CREW PLAY
VIDEO: INTERVIEW WITH COMMANDER SCOTT ALTMAN PLAY | '09 UPDATE
VIDEO: INTERVIEW WITH PILOT GREG JOHNSON PLAY
VIDEO: INTERVIEW WITH MS1 MIKE GOOD PLAY
VIDEO: INTERVIEW WITH MS2 MEGAN MCARTHUR PLAY
VIDEO: INTERVIEW WITH MS3 JOHN GRUNSFELD PLAY | '09 UPDATE
VIDEO: INTERVIEW WITH MS4 MIKE MASSIMINO PLAY | '09 UPDATE
VIDEO: INTERVIEW WITH MS5 DREW FEUSTEL PLAY | '09 UPDATE

VIDEO: SHUTTLE ATLANTIS ARRIVES AT LAUNCH PAD 39A PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: THE SUN RISES ON ATLANTIS DURING ROLLOUT PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: ATLANTIS EMERGES FROM ASSEMBLY BUILDING PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: ORBITER VERTICAL FOR MATING TO FUEL TANK PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: ATLANTIS MOVES BACK TO ASSEMBLY BUILDING PLAY | HI-DEF

VIDEO: ATLANTIS LEAVES LAUNCH PAD 39A IN OCT. PLAY
VIDEO: TIMELAPSE OF THE ROLLBACK GETTING UNDERWAY PLAY

VIDEO: ASTRONAUTS REHEARSE QUICK SHUTTLE EXIT PLAY
VIDEO: CREW BOARDS ATLANTIS FOR MOCK COUNTDOWN PLAY
VIDEO: ASTRONAUTS DON SUITS FOR PRACTICE COUNTDOWN PLAY
VIDEO: CREW'S TRAINING ON ESCAPE BASKETS AND BUNKER PLAY
VIDEO: ASTRONAUTS CHAT WITH PRESS AT LAUNCH PAD PLAY
VIDEO: CREW TEST DRIVES EMERGENCY PAD ESCAPE VEHICLE PLAY
VIDEO: COMMANDER AND PILOT PRACTICE LANDING APPROACHES PLAY
VIDEO: CREW ARRIVES AT CAPE FOR PRACTICE COUNTDOWN PLAY
VIDEO: COMMENTS FROM COMMANDER AFTER ARRIVING PLAY

VIDEO: AERIAL VIEWS OF ATLANTIS AND ENDEAVOUR PLAY | HI-DEF

VIDEO: PRE-FLIGHT BRIEFING: THE STS-125 MISSION PLAY
VIDEO: PRE-FLIGHT BRIEFING: THE FIVE SPACEWALKS PLAY
VIDEO: PRE-FLIGHT BRIEFING: THE SEVEN ASTRONAUTS PLAY
VIDEO: PRE-FLIGHT BRIEFING: NASA LEADERSHIP PLAY
VIDEO: PRE-FLIGHT BRIEFING: SHUTTLE PROGRAM BOSS PLAY
VIDEO: PRE-FLIGHT BRIEFING: HUBBLE OVERVIEW PLAY
VIDEO: PRE-FLIGHT BRIEFING: HUBBLE SCIENCE PLAY

VIDEO: SHUTTLE ARRIVES ATOP PAD 39A PLAY
VIDEO: ATLANTIS EMERGES FROM VEHICLE ASSEMBLY BUILDING PLAY
VIDEO: TIME-LAPSE MOVIE OF ATLANTIS' ROLLOUT TO LAUNCH PAD PLAY

VIDEO: ATLANTIS ROLLS FROM HANGAR TO VAB PLAY
VIDEO: ATLANTIS LIFTED INTO PLACE FOR ATTACHMENT PLAY
MORE: STS-125 VIDEO COVERAGE
NEW! HIGH DEFINITION VIDEO
SUBSCRIBE NOW