A Mission So Dangerous A Rescue Shuttle Was Ready! | STS-125

[@easternyellowjacket276]

Keep Hubble in service. It's a valuable tool to observe the universe. When it does finally end is usefulness, bring it home.

[@wendyhood1006]

Totally agree 👍

[@CaptainQ2607]

Chandra too.

[@GreenBlueWalkthrough]

I agree it hasn't looked everyhwheere it can yet and webb is busy doing cooler stuff and it's not like museum ships are free to end their service life with so returning somthing like the hubble and putting it in a muesm should not be more expive then a iowa class meusem ship.

[@didrikhoffmann6414]

it is pretty easy to do it you just need a cargo bay to get it home with

[@KiRiTO72987]

​@@didrikhoffmann6414cough starship cough cough

[@StevePemberton2]

I watched the spacewalks live on NASA-TV on DirecTV which was one of the few options back then. The two most memorable involved Mike Massimino. One of them was mentioned in the video, when he yanked the handle off. But even more dramatic was the first spacewalk which was to replace the Wide Field and Planetary Camera 2 (WFPC2) with Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3). Mike had to loosen the bolt on WFPC2, which turned out to be stuck. If he couldn't get it loose they would have had to leave WFPC2 in place. When the first preset torque wrench failed he was given permission to use a higher torque wrench. When that one also failed he was given permission to use the highest torque wrench they had. But the nut still refused to budge. The only wrench left was a breaker bar, but if the bolt broke off that would be bad and it might even make WFPC2 unusable. But they gave him a go to use the breaker bar. He put some muscle into it, and it loosened. And we now have 15 years of wonderful pictures from WFC3 because of it.

[@100SteveB]

I just loved that screw capture device! What a great solution. And yes, let Jared and SpaceX boost Hubble to a higher orbit, and maybe do a wee bit of maintenance at the same time. And yes, in another ten years or so, if Starship is fully online, it would not be too difficult to design a Starship cargo bay to bring Hubble back to earth. Would be so amazing to see it in a museum, and a much more fitting end for an instrument that's taught us all so much about the universe.

[@hanschristianben505]

SpaceX, at least in one of its latest renderings, showed Starship to have Shuttle-style payload bay doors… so, if they have the same or larger dimensions, returning Hubble back is indeed a real possibility… the question now is, how will Starship handle with the bellyflop/vertical landing with that big ass payload inside of it… it’s something that is not yet tested…

[@ShadeNature]

@@hanschristianben505 This is a real challenge. Hubble is 13 Meter (42,65 Foot) long and has a waight of 11 Metric Tons. Also the Speed of Hubble is arround 28.000 Km/H ( 17400 mph) you need more Fuel for slowdown and landing.

[@karatwilight]

"it belongs in a museum!" (long after a refurb mission has extended its life and unlocked more scientific mysteries)

[@davidsheppard1133]

WOW! Sawyer I didn’t realize that there were so many missions to Hubble. Thank you for keeping us updated. I hope NASA does choose to let Jared and his team save Hubble with more upgrades. It seems like the best option.

[@astria4157]

This video really made me appreciate how hard those astronauts worked to keep Hubble going. Hubble has a special place in all astronomer's hearts.

[@johit103067]

Great video! Yes, Hubble is definitely worth saving and we have an mission crew ready to accept the challenge that could extend Hubble's life 10-20 years giving Starship enough time to develope into a mission to bring Hubble back! This would be absolutely awesome!

[@markhenderson9778]

A SpaceX mission to service the Hubble would be great to see.

[@Ron4885]

Yes. I'd like to see it fixed and updated. Could still be good for years.

[@JenniferA886]

Or just build a new telescope and let Hubble re enter… cheaper?

[@zachb1706]

@@JenniferA886Isaacman and SpaceX are self funding the missions

[@JenniferA886]

@@zachb1706 ok good point… I was not aware of this. Many thanks for pointing it out 👍👍👍

[@nicoleskorupsky1007]

I’m sure NASA would still have to partially fund a part of the service mission, it is their telescope after all and they understand how it works and how it’s been built and repaired for years. I’m sure they’d share the information and such with SpaceX and other independent contractors if they trust them but they’d still partially pay.

[@benjaminklein8697]

Wild episode, very interessting mission back then, thanks a lot for making it

[@bobfillmore384]

Thanks Sawyer! And NSF. Great summary of the Hubble maintenance missions… and a demonstration of Shuttle’s potential, and the reason for manned spaceflight. I was glued to the TV during all those missions, and imagining future missions to repair various spacecraft. We should definitely extend Hubble’s life in future missions.. it’s an iconic scientific resource.

[@jeffk1482]

Sawyer - great episode! I always followed the Hubble missions quite closely, but you brought up some info I didn’t know. Nice deeper dive!

[@TumnusMr]

I got lucky and timed a visit to KSC while Endeavor was on the pad and got to go on the “VIP” tour, which took you about as close to the pad as they ever allow the general public. That was a cool experience.

[@Tinman_56]

If I'm not mistaken, the ONLY time NASA ever had an active ready-to-fly emergency vehicle prepped and on the pad!

[@beesod6412]

Actual Space cowboys. so awesome. thank you NSF!

[@StevePemberton2]

I got to watch the STS-125 launch from the NASA causeway. It was easily the best of the six Shuttle launches that I saw. It was exciting and yet also somewhat sobering to see Endeavour off in the distance on pad B, which was a reminder of Columbia. Unlike other missions which by then all launched to the northeast to get to ISS, STS-125 launched almost exactly due east, keeping it seemingly right in front of us all the way through SRB separation. And to top it off it was perfectly clear skies, no clouds anywhere from what I can remember, at least not anywhere near the cape.

[@metallicamadsam]

its a shame it took so long and so much investment of life and money to mature the space shuttle program. But hey, we get starship within the next 3 years, that mofo did a landing burn with missing tail fins. Im excited at the very least.

[@joshuapatterson5824]

This was the one and only shuttle launch I saw. It was very cloudy, it disappeared pretty fast after launch but the rumble kept on rumbling. Never forget it.

[@TheMichaelBeck]

So amazed at the beautiful images and things we learned from Hubble. The JWST is going to change the way we see the cosmos.

[@samuelealessi234]

Large mouth starship coming in clutch

[@metalhead4700]

And going home clutchING.

[@AlliedBroom9081]

And landing would be true clutch

[@dancingdog2790]

@@AlliedBroom9081 Clench

[@officialwildcardadventures]

Excellent video @NASASpaceflight! I love your productions. Thanks for teaching us and keeping us informed on all things Spaceflight! Gorgeous Hubble images! What a story of events. I love my Shuttle T-Shirt. One of my favorites!

[@officialwildcardadventures]

I love seeing the Canadarm in use.

[@DJRonnieG]

Having a rescue shuttle is certainly not as easy as keeping a plane on standby. I remember watching the servicing mission as a youth, it was fun warching astronauts with bulky gloves working with various tools. Later on when I was in my early 20s, I had the privilege of watching the last servicing mission.

[@bee42]

great presentation Sawyer

[@MrKellymcilrath]

Awesom video, very informative Thank you so much Sawyer, & NSF!!!

[@Electrohawk_CopperCompass]

I was there to see STS-125. We live in Utah and I choose STS-125 specifically because there were two shuttle launches scheduled within 1 week's time which was rare and I really wanted to see a shuttle launch. I do not remember NASA advertising that STS-126 was scheduled as a rescue mission for STS-125. They probably were keep the concern under their hat.

[@aerohk]

If the scope is getting another visit, bringing it back is crazy. Repairing it and refueling it is much more sensible.

[@fredpryde8555]

i never realized how many missions were needed to keep it running i reckon it it not broke do not fix it it leave it up there longer as our eyes in the sky

[@MickRonald]

I watched most of the STS-125 mission live on the NASA.gov website. Specifically, remember the issue with the handle and watching Mike Massimino pull it off. Can't believe it has been 15 years, time flies. Thank you Sawyer for the awesome recap.

[@theplayernkc]

5:29 has to be one of the most cool pictures I have ever seen. I never knew that NASA had 2 shuttles ready to launch at one time, mind blown.

[@ryanharkins]

Thanks Sawyer! Great video!

[@jantonkens9820]

For now: do an EVA & fix some basic and essential instruments like gyros etc, give it a nice boost to higher orbit and then in 5-10 years pick it up and bring home for generations to come ❤

[@ebonaparte3853]

I think it should come home. We have the James Webb Telescope now, and it has served us well for decades. It should be brought down on a Starship and put in a museum somewhere.

[@anthonycamilleri7297]

thank you so much sawyer i believe that hubble has much to offer long live hubble

[@JB-bs1se]

If they could bring Hubble home I would pay to see it in a museum for sure.

[@petergroves9343]

To see Hubble back on earth would be amazing, provided it's viable

[@joecarmo9059]

It stands to logic that if we can eventually bring Hubble down on a Starship then we can put a better one up on the same flight. Goes up full, comes down full.

[@peterdore2572]

YAS! SAWYER IS BACK 🎉 Im Glad he has been Successfully Reserviced 😊

[@matjazwalland903]

Hubble deserves to be repaired and relicensed as it is the best known satellite telescope outside of the world. And if nothing else, at the end of its operation, it will be able to win the title of the first telescope to return home.

[@barrya5191]

Absolutely, bring it home in StarShip. Put her in the Smithsonian.

[@bigianh]

Could they not use the Soft Capture adapter to attach a service module with Giros, RCS Thrusters etc to extend the life of the telescope. Obviously without the Space Shuttle the scope for fixing instruments is limited but we can surely extend its life as a whole

[@wallacefrey6247]

Any day I can learn something new and interesting is a good day. Today is a good day,thanks for a great video.

[@Scoregraphic]

Nice video! Now I know more about the hubble and its future

[@RichardFriedlaender]

A high school friends father worked on COSTAR at Perkin-Elmer in Danbury, CT.

[@techmap9]

A lot of good new information for me, thanks!

[@Marc83Aus]

Oh man. STS 125 already? Looks like I missed about a hundred and twenty shuttle sundays. How time flies.

[@jfgenie]

Dude, your cat is so chill, love it!

[@Shammoria]

It would be worth it to bring it home even if it waz just to study what damage happens to a large object tbat has been in space as long an hubble has endured, it will be nesessary to know for long duration manned missions aboard things like Starship to know how to armour them, the ISS has also been a good analogue, but being able to actually get hubble into a material science lab and examine the stresses etc would be invaluable, this can even be done without a lot of the cool equipment you would put in an exhibition.

[@thomaswilkerson9961]

I was there. Have a great photo of Endouver sitting on the pad waiting I took from a few hundred yards away.

[@jedwardzenio5989]

Great video! First, they should give Hubble some more time to live and after a few years, when Starship is operational, bring Hubble home.

[@TinsleTinsle]

That was a great watch love the history videos. Keep you the great work NSF 😘

[@corrinastanley125]

Thanks NSF team.

[@Markeonyyy]

My friend works at an avaiation school that tonight just had Mike, the astronaut that ripped the handle off, as a speaker for a fundraiser tonight. He minutes before I saw this video was telling the story that Mike told at this gala. Really ironic but super interesting.

[@TheKeithterry]

I have always hoped they would bring it back.

[@cornbreadreturns296]

We should obviously service Hubble again. The thing still has people lined up for time on it. It's still a very valuable resource. When it no longer makes sense, have Starship bring it home. IT BELONGS IN A MESEUM!

[@Av8or7]

Fix it now,and bring it home in 20 years bring it back and put it in the Smithsonian.

[@IsabellaIsabella-mc1tx]

Wonderful flight great thanks ❤

[@marcmayou1422]

Thanks Sawer

[@marcmayou1422]

Sawyer

[@NovaDeb]

Great video! Very informative.😊

[@reneevv3248]

Very interesting! Thanks Sawyer!

[@Wild-Eye]

To see and maybe perhaps touch Hubble would be absolutely awesome

[@roesbud53]

Looking great Sawyer! ❤❤❤

[@kwcnasa]

For SpaceX points of view by bring Hubble Space Telescope back to Earth. They can also test or show their Starship ability to do this kind of logistics in the future of Mars missions.

[@ScienceManiacCZ]

Fix and boost it!!! Hubble is awesome and should be used till it's obsolete!!!

[@randalg51]

Lets keep on fixing it for as long as we can and go from there until we have done all that can be done then bring it home.

[@CaptainQ2607]

Hopefully, Jared can get the misson to fix it. It would be amazing ❤

[@diegolink42]

Hopefully SpaceX can service Hubble and save ISS too, Starship docked to the ISS would be insane!

[@JanLukas97]

Happy release für nächste Woche!

[@tonamg53]

Hubble needs to come back home in one piece… or else I’m going to cry and throw a tantrum.

[@jerzeyguy71]

YES, we should keep something that is giving us new information in orbit, and also if we can help it get new technology.. its already there. And like Voyager that keeps going.. I do think we need to launch something to go towards the center of our solar system, even though it will be so long, at least it is a start... we do not need to put the record on it, but yes, maybe something that shows where we are? but mostly have systems that can keep the life going for like 200 years! and systems that can study whatever seems important!

[@robordm]

Great episode!

[@pj8593]

Just finished Mike's book Spaceman. .nice coverage on 225

[@pj8593]

125 not 225

[@HostageAsker]

listen, if NASA and the Smithsonian decide to bring Hubble home aboard Starship or whatever(YOU SHOULD), we need to build a new museum for spacecraft safely returned to earth. I would pay so much to see this happen.

[@Ellhulto]

The best part was the Jake cameo

[@officialwildcardadventures]

Can Hubble be "refurbished", upgraded and relaunched in order to maintain it's lifeline? Hubble has been a valuable asset to humanity.

[@jimsalentine1887]

Excellent video!

[@clone_bricks9855]

I have autographs of the STS 125 astronauts: Scott Altman, Michael Good, Mike Massimino and Andrew Feustel

[@richardknapp570]

At list point, decommisioning (either re-entry or StarShip) seems like better option. The ability of newer equipment has drastically improved what a newer space telescope can do (JWST) so maybe a replacement would be an option.

[@wafikiri_]

Bring Hubble back home, renew its units, take it back to orbit.

[@cateclism316]

39A and 39B both occupied at the same time!

[@craigw.scribner6490]

Great video, thanks!

[@darksars3622]

Cat who needs bely rubs at 13:29

[@alexdhall]

Yis! 😻

[@Tishers]

IF Starship ever becomes a viable and reliable vessel it would be better to replace Hubble with a new-hotness at the same time they bring it back for analysis and enshrinement in a museum. We need to move past the point where we think of everything that is launched in to orbit as being gone once something fails or it runs out of fuel or power. A spacefaring civilization constantly upgrades and swaps out old technology for new. You only learn of what didn't work before after you do an analysis of what the space environment does to equipment. Then you can take that knowledge and advance the science and art.

[@renanfeitosa101]

the fun fact is that hubble service missions was the highest altitudes that the shuttle ever reached

[@toddincabo]

👍 Nice job, cool

[@LoneWolf0648]

1) let spaceX give it the boost and fix that the legend deserves, hubble and the james webb working together can do amazing things. 2) when hubble finally does reach the end of its life span, bring it down in a starship, and put it in the museum next to the shuttle discovery (the shuttle that launched hubble in the first place) im sure the Smithsonian would give it the retirement it deserves.

[@Rorschach1024]

I photoplotted the control board for that torque tool.

[@stevengaming3689]

Great video!

[@PratikPrakash-pm1pz]

repair it and make it available to universities when some other teleskope takes it's place and when the it becomes too outdated then bring it back and put into a museum. I am sure people would pay to see hubble in person

[@jonasthesen]

When Hubble is EOF, Star Ship would probably be able to take it home and then put Hubble at a museum 😄

[@chrism3784]

There may be a chance Hubble now is unservicable in orbit right now. Some of the bolts were stuck or stripped when they removed parts from the last service mission. Now has been a long gap in time so many more bolts will be nearly impossible to remove. Break 1 bolt and it may be game over. Bring it back safely then service it and put back in orbit. Or just build a new one entirely

[@charlesmaurer6214]

Would be great to preserve it as better devices take over the role. Building a Moon based set of telescopes should be a high priority on the Far side with fiberoptic lines to relay data. Moon would shield Earth based static and glare, also would avoid navigation related issues with massive numbers of orbiting objects added over time. Perhaps even a Telecom base on the near side would be useful and scalable.

[@MochaIzumi]

WHY DID I CRY OVER HUBBLE😭😭😭

[@Stralnikov]

Bring Hubble home!

[@jonmarquez128]

Imagine the Starship servicing the JWST? 🤯🤯🤯🤯

[@oneman2001]

People don't appreciate how incrediable complex and difficult that mission was. There was no way a robot could have done it back then and even today very unlikely. And people talk about building stuff in space like its nothing difficult.

[@filakyle3663]

Very nice video

[@bman5988]

Fix her up! Then bring her back when she retires! I think they have to try at this point, that telescope has done so much. Have they ever brought anything big like that back down intact?

[@NoTraceOfSense]

Go Ray-Jay Go!

[@keith_5584]

I think I would be happy if my last act in this plane was to help others see into the future. Actually technically see the past. Still very sad though.

[@STS125]

I’m slightly familiar with this mission ;)

[@vesper8450]

Even though it is a machine that we as man have built, it has put in decades years of service. And to merely, resign it into a burn up reentry, would be unfitting when we have the capabilities to bring it home and display for future generations to see.

[@Thisandthat8908]

i think by that time all Space Shuttle missions were considered dangerous. And were still done only to tune up Hubble one last time and build the ISS.