NASA aims to launch shuttle Atlantis May 12 on a fifth and final Hubble Space Telescope servicing mission, officials said today.A spare science instrument control and data handling unit will be ready for flight in time to meet that date. Officials said the unit will be put through extensive testing before it is shipped to Kennedy Space Center next spring.
The mission had been slated for launch Oct. 14. But the flight was delayed after the telescope's prime instrument control and data handling unit -- which is critical to observatory operations -- failed Sept. 27.
Like the unit on the observatory, the spare is equipped with a prime control and data formatting device. The primary one did not operate properly during initial testing, and NASA officials still are not certain why.
No "smoking gun" was discovered during subsequent testing. So the plan now is to start up vibration, thermal vacuum and other environmental testing after a readiness review to be held Dec. 16.
Project officials say there still is substantial slack in the schedule for the mid-May launch date.
ABOUT THE IMAGE: Click to enlarge and save the awesome shot of the Hubble Space Telescope. It was taken by the crew of STS-103 during a servicing mission in December 1999. You can also click the enlarged image to get an even bigger view.
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