Live In Orbit: Shuttle Crew Bids Hubble Adieu

The Atlantis astronauts aim to send NASA's Hubble Space Telescope on to new voyages of discovery today after winding up five spacewalks that raised the observatory to new scientific heights.

With the four-story telescope fixed to the end of a 50-foot robot arm, shuttle mission specialist Megan McArthur will cast the 19-year-old observatory back into its operational orbit 350 miles above the planet.

Then the astronauts will zoom off, leaving Hubble with two powerful new science instruments, two others that spacewalkers repaired, and new gear that should enable the iconic observatory to operate another five to 10 years.

NASA's fifth and final Hubble servicing crew pulled off the improbable.

"On this mission, we tried some things that many people said were not possible," Atlantis mission specialist John Grunsfeld said Monday.

"But we've achieved that, and we wish Hubble the very best," he said, adding, "I want to wish Hubble a new set of adventures" that will "unlock further mysteries of the universe."

Here's a look at the coming day in space:

4:31 a.m.: Crew wakes.

6:16 a.m.: Shuttle robot arm grapples Hubble.

7:11 a.m.: Hubble unberth maneuver.

8:16 a.m. Hubble aperture door opens.

8:53 a.m. Hubble release.

9:26 a.m.: Atlantis departs Hubble vicinity.

9:51 a.m.: Flight Support System stowage.

11:11 a.m.: Shuttle robot arm grapple inspection boom.

12:51 p.m.: Shuttle heat shield inspection.

8:31 p.m.: Crew sleep.