...but anyone who has experienced the Hubble Ultra Deep Field photograph (I say "experienced" because to say one has "seen" it is simply too small a concept) would agree that the Hubble Telescope truly deserves one.
While newer technology in earthbound telescopes has in some ways outstripped the Hubble, no piece of space based technology has ever captured the public's imagination the way Hubble has. It's not about the adventure, the way the Apollo missions were, nor the science the way the International Space Station is. Hubble is (for us earthbound laypeople, at least) about the sheer beauty and grandeur of the universe we live in. It is also the only piece of technology that we have that truly lets us see the scope of the universe.
Sadly, the current mission to resuscitate the aging telescope is the last one planned. Once the current upgrades and repairs start to fail, Hubble's life will come to an end, likely in a fiery plunge into the Pacific Ocean.
Before that happens, however, Hubble is sure to bring us some more staggeringly stunning imagery over the next few years.
From CNN.com today:
The space shuttle Atlantis captured the Hubble Space Telescope with its robotic arm Wednesday, paving the way for astronauts to begin repairing the orbiting observatory.
Using views from a remote camera, Mission Specialist K. Megan McArthur lowered Hubble into a cradle in Atlantis' cargo bay, according to NASA. The telescope will then be latched to the rotating, lazy Susan-type device for five days of servicing work.
An umbilical line will be remotely connected to provide electrical power from Atlantis to the telescope, NASA said. Mission commander Scott Altman also will position the shuttle to allow Hubble's solar arrays to gather energy from the sun and recharge the telescope's batteries.
The robotic-arm operation completed a delicate dance for the shuttle crew, involving periodic firings of the shuttle's thrusters to align it with the space telescope -- all of this taking place about 350 miles above Earth.
The crew plans to perform five spacewalks to refurbish and upgrade the telescope's equipment. The first spacewalk is scheduled for Thursday.
Atlantis launched Monday afternoon for NASA's fifth and final repair visit to the telescope. It has been seven years since NASA's last mission to service the Hubble, which was designed to go about three years between fixes.
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Keep your fingers crossed for the safety of our astronauts. Because of space debris, this is being considered one of the most dangerous missions....ever!
Here's to more fantastic pictures from space....and new knowledge gained! Cheers!
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