STS-125: The Final Hubble Servicing Mission

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This recording captures the post-landing activities of Space Shuttle Atlantis at Edwards Air Force Base, occurring shortly after touchdown at 10:39 AM Central Time. Notable moments include the opening of the side hatch at 11:18 AM and the final crew member, Commander Scott Altman, exiting the vehicle at 11:37 AM. The crew reflects on their successful mission, emphasizing the teamwork involved in servicing the Hubble Space Telescope.

This recording captures the crew of Atlantis on Flight Day 11, engaging in a historic live testimony from space to the Senate, featuring Senator Barbara Mikulski and Senator Bill Nelson. Notable moments include discussions about the challenges faced during EVAs, particularly the nail-biting moments of removing the old camera and dealing with a stubborn bolt on the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph. The crew reflects on their successful mission to service the Hubble Space Telescope and prepares for their upcoming landing.

This recording captures the landing of Space Shuttle Atlantis at Edwards Air Force Base, occurring 12 days after its launch. Distinctive moments include Commander Scott Altman manually flying the shuttle for the final approach and touchdown on Runway 22, with main gear touchdown at 10:39:09 AM Central Time. The landing marks the completion of Atlantis's 30th mission and the 53rd shuttle mission to end at Edwards, following a successful servicing of the Hubble Space Telescope.

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This recording captures the fourth spacewalk (EVA-4) of the STS-125 mission, performed by astronauts Mike Massimino and Michael Good, beginning at 8:45 AM Central Time. Distinctive moments include the manual removal of a handrail at 3 hours and 14 minutes into the EVA to access the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph, and the installation of a fastener capture plate, which faced challenges due to a gasket interference issue. The EVA lasted approximately 6 hours and 30 minutes.

This recording captures the fourth spacewalk (EVA-4) of the STS-125 mission, performed by astronauts Mike Massimino and Michael Good, beginning at 8:45 AM Central Time. Distinctive moments include the repair of the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph, which was budgeted for four and a half hours, and the installation of a ground strap harness bag. The EVA also involved addressing a battery voltage decay issue during the tasks.

This recording captures the fourth spacewalk (EVA-4) of the STS-125 mission, performed by astronauts Mike Massimino and Drew Feustel, beginning at 8:45 AM Central Time. Distinctive moments include the manual removal of a handrail at 3 hours and 14 minutes into the EVA, which required careful coordination due to a tether issue, and the installation of a fastener capture plate, facing challenges with a battery voltage decay message during the tasks.

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This recording captures the first spacewalk (EVA-1) of the STS-125 mission, performed by astronauts John Grunsfeld and Drew Feustel. Distinctive moments include the successful installation of the new Science Instrument Command and Data Handling unit, with Grunsfeld completing the installation at 12:46 PM Central Time. The crew also conducted a thorough inspection and lubrication of the Hubble Space Telescope's latch over center kits, addressing a torque issue during the process.

This recording captures the second spacewalk (EVA-2) of the STS-125 mission, performed by astronauts Mike Massimino and Mike Good, lasting 4 hours and 50 minutes. Distinctive moments include the successful installation of three rate sensor units on the Hubble Space Telescope, with the task completed at 12:39 PM Central Time. The crew also faced challenges with connector mating and door closures, highlighting the complexities of their work in space.

This recording captures the third spacewalk (EVA-3) of the STS-125 mission, performed by astronauts John Grunsfeld and Drew Feustel. Distinctive moments include the completion of the COSTAR stowage at 11:46 AM and the removal of the first electronics card from the Advanced Camera for Surveys at 1:11 PM, marking significant progress in the intricate repair tasks. The EVA lasted approximately 4 hours and 50 minutes, with the crew operating ahead of schedule.

This recording captures the third spacewalk (EVA-3) of the STS-125 mission, performed by astronauts John Grunsfeld and Drew Feustel, beginning at 8:35 AM Central Time. Distinctive moments include the installation of the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph and the completion of repairs to the Advanced Camera for Surveys, which involved replacing four electronics cards and installing a new low voltage power supply. The EVA lasted 6 hours and 36 minutes, concluding with a successful liveness test reported by the Space Telescope Operations Center.

This recording captures the fifth spacewalk of the mission, lasting 7 hours and 2 minutes, during which astronauts John Grunsfeld and Drew Feustel successfully installed a new battery module and completed the installation of the outer blanket layer insulation on the Hubble Space Telescope. An off-nominal moment occurred when Grunsfeld accidentally knocked off a piece of the low gain antenna while retrieving debris, leading to a decision to reinstall a thermal cover. The spacewalk concluded with the deployment of the high gain antennas and a successful aliveness test of the new equipment.

This recording captures the fifth spacewalk (EVA-5) of the STS-125 mission, performed by astronauts John Grunsfeld and Drew Feustel, lasting 5 hours and 25 minutes. Distinctive moments include the installation of new outer blanket layers over Bay 8 and Bay 7 of the Hubble Space Telescope, with the final task completed at 12:45 PM Central Time. The crew also addressed a minor incident involving the low gain antenna, which required the reinstallation of its protective cover after it was knocked off during the EVA.

This recording captures the fifth spacewalk (EVA-5) of the STS-125 mission, performed by astronauts John Grunsfeld and Drew Feustel, beginning at approximately 8:54 AM. Distinctive moments include the successful removal of the fine guidance sensor from the Hubble Space Telescope at 9:57 AM, after overcoming torque challenges, and the installation of a new battery in Bay 3. The EVA lasted about 2 hours and 37 minutes, showcasing critical tasks in servicing the telescope.

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This recording captures the second spacewalk (EVA-2) of the STS-125 mission, performed by astronauts Mike Massimino and Mike Good, beginning at 7:49 AM Central Time. Distinctive moments include the opening of the aft shroud doors after 52 minutes into the EVA and the crew's efforts to secure a door that tended to close unexpectedly, requiring tethering to maintain its position. The EVA lasted approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes.

This recording captures the second spacewalk (EVA-2) of the STS-125 mission, beginning at 7:49 AM Central Time. Astronauts Mike Massimino and Michael Good are tasked with replacing three rate sensor units and one battery on the Hubble Space Telescope. Notable moments include the completion of the pre-breathe exercise at 7:30 AM and the official start of the EVA at 7:49 AM, marking Good's first spacewalk and Massimino's third.

This recording captures the third spacewalk (EVA-3) of the STS-125 mission, performed by astronauts John Grunsfeld and Drew Feustel, beginning at 9:54 AM Central Time. Distinctive moments include the successful removal of the COSTAR instrument from the Hubble Space Telescope after 16 years of service, and the installation of the new Cosmic Origin Spectrograph, with the COSTAR being stowed at 11:22 AM. The EVA lasted approximately 2 hours and 47 minutes.

This recording captures the fifth spacewalk (EVA-5) of the STS-125 mission, beginning at 7:20 AM Central Time. Distinctive moments include the installation of the new fine guidance sensor at 3 hours and 21 minutes into the EVA, with successful connections completed by 10:41 AM. The crew, including John Grunsfeld and Drew Feustel, also worked on installing new outer blanket layers on equipment bays, with the first layer completed on Bay 5.

This recording captures the successful grapple and berthing of the Hubble Space Telescope by Space Shuttle Atlantis, occurring shortly after the completion of the HST birth operations. Notable moments include Commander Scott Altman reporting the completion of the 80 millimeter lens survey at 4:07 PM and discussions about upcoming tasks for the first spacewalk, including the installation of the Wide Field Camera 3 and the Science Instrument Command and Data Handling Unit. The crew also addresses a minor anomaly regarding fine particulate matter observed on the telescope's protective enclosure.

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This recording features a pre-launch briefing for the STS-125 mission, occurring 30 days before the scheduled launch. Distinctive moments include discussions led by Bill Gerstenmaier and Ed Weiler about the unprecedented complexity of repairing instruments on the Hubble Space Telescope, specifically the Advanced Camera and Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph. The briefing emphasizes the significance of this final servicing mission and the excitement surrounding the upgrades planned for Hubble.

This recording captures the landing preparations for Space Shuttle Atlantis at Edwards Air Force Base, occurring shortly after the decision to waive off the Kennedy Space Center opportunity due to dynamic weather conditions. Notable moments include the deorbit burn at 9:24 AM Central Time, lasting 2 minutes and 36 seconds, and Commander Scott Altman's planned left overhead turn for final approach to Runway 22, with touchdown expected at 10:39 AM Central Time. The weather at Edwards is reported as clear with light winds, making it a favorable landing site.

This recording captures the thermal protection system survey of Space Shuttle Atlantis on Flight Day 2, focusing on the inspection of the orbiter's belly tiles and reinforced carbon-carbon panels. Notable moments include the identification of minor nick damage on the starboard chine area, likely related to debris from launch, and the decision to depressurize the cabin from 14.7 psi to 10.2 psi to prepare for upcoming spacewalks. The crew, including Commander Scott Altman and mission specialists Mike Good and Mike Massimino, conducted the survey using the orbiter boom sensor system.

This recording captures the first spacewalk (EVA-1) of the STS-125 mission, performed by astronauts John Grunsfeld and Drew Feustel, lasting approximately 4 hours and 30 minutes. Distinctive moments include the successful installation of the new Wide Field Camera 3 at 3 hours and 12 minutes into the EVA, confirmed by a liveness test from the Space Telescope Operations Control Center. The crew also completed the stowage of the old camera, which had served for 16 years aboard the Hubble Space Telescope.

This recording captures the first spacewalk (EVA-1) of the STS-125 mission, performed by astronauts John Grunsfeld and Drew Feustel, lasting 7 hours and 20 minutes. Distinctive moments include the successful installation of the Wide Field Camera 3 and the Science Instrument Command and Data Handling unit, along with challenges faced during the installation of latch over center kits on the aft shroud doors. This EVA marks Feustel's first spacewalk and Grunsfeld's sixth, contributing to a total of 136 hours and 30 minutes of EVA time for Hubble servicing.

This recording captures the launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis, occurring at T-minus 0:00 on the countdown clock. Distinctive moments include the successful liftoff at 1:01 PM Central Time, followed by key ascent milestones such as solid rocket booster separation and main engine cutoff. The crew also conducted a crew cabin survey shortly after reaching orbit, with Commander Scott Altman reporting an issue with a television monitor that was later resolved.

This recording captures the preparations for the release of the Hubble Space Telescope during STS-125, occurring shortly before the scheduled release at 7:57 AM Central Time. Distinctive moments include the successful grapple of the telescope by the robotic arm at 5:45 AM and the confirmation of the telescope's release position at 6:58 AM. The crew, led by Megan McArthur, also discusses a potential four-minute delay to ensure good communication for the release.

This recording captures the post-launch activities of Space Shuttle Atlantis, focusing on the ascent phase. Distinctive moments include the robotic arm checkout led by mission specialists Megan McArthur and Mike Massimino, and the activation of the wing leading edge sensors by Mike Feustel. The crew also prepares for the upcoming NC1 burn scheduled to occur in approximately 55 minutes, while addressing temperature alarms noted in the payload bay.

This recording features the launch minus one day countdown status briefing for Space Shuttle Atlantis, highlighting key preparations for the STS-125 mission. Notable moments include Charlie Blackwell Thompson reporting the completion of main engine avionics checkout and external tank inspections, as well as the planned T-9 minute hold at 2:01 PM for launch. The briefing also discusses the payload configuration, including the Hubble Space Telescope carriers and mid-deck experiments, with a focus on the weather forecast indicating a 90% chance of favorable conditions for launch.

This recording captures the deployment of the Hubble Space Telescope from Space Shuttle Atlantis, occurring at 6:58 AM Central Time. Notable moments include Commander Scott Altman commanding the shuttle into free drift to prevent inadvertent thruster firings during the release, and the crew's reflections on the emotional significance of saying goodbye to Hubble. The crew also engages in light-hearted banter about who was the last to touch the telescope, highlighting the camaraderie among them.

This recording captures Flight Day 6 of the STS-125 mission, featuring the installation of the Cosmic Origin Spectrograph (COS) and repairs on the Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS). Notable moments include the successful removal of the COSTAR instrument, which had been in place since 1993, at 41 minutes into the spacewalk, and the completion of an aliveness test for the COS at 11:22 AM. John Grunsfeld and Drew Feustel performed the tasks with assistance from Megan McArthur, marking significant milestones in Hubble's servicing.

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This recording captures the landing preparations for Atlantis, focusing on the deorbit prep briefing. Key details include the planned deorbit burn at 9:33 AM Central and the anticipated landing at Kennedy Space Center at 10:39 AM Central, contingent on weather conditions. Commander Scott Altman and Pilot Greg Johnson discuss the weather outlook, noting the possibility of a wave-off if conditions do not improve. The crew also conducts a landing minus one communication checkout.

This recording features the flight control systems (FCS) checkout for Atlantis, occurring the day before landing. Notable details include the loss of the ASA1 channel prior to liftoff and the successful completion of the FCS checkout, which included testing the elevons and rudder. The crew, led by Commander Scott Altman and Pilot Greg Johnson, also performed a reaction control system hot fire test, confirming all systems were ready for the planned landing at Kennedy Space Center.

This recording captures the grapple and berthing of the Hubble Space Telescope by Space Shuttle Atlantis, occurring at 12:14 PM and 1:12 PM Central Time, respectively. Notable moments include the successful execution of an attitude maneuver to establish a communications link with Hubble and the confirmation of all three latches being closed at 1:12 PM. The crew, including Megan McArthur and Dan Burbank, navigates challenges with communications and prepares for subsequent servicing tasks.

This recording captures the rendezvous operations of Space Shuttle Atlantis with the Hubble Space Telescope, occurring approximately one hour before the grapple at 12:14 PM Central Time. Distinctive moments include Commander Scott Altman manually flying Atlantis during the final approach and executing a yaw maneuver to align with Hubble, which saved about 16 minutes of commanding time. The crew confirmed the telescope's solar rays were in the proper configuration for capture, and John Grunsfeld provided insights on the telescope's condition as they prepared for grapple.

This recording captures the terminal initiation burn preparations for Atlantis, occurring approximately 40 minutes before the scheduled burn at 9:41 AM Central Time. Distinctive moments include the confirmation of the burn parameters by Flight Director Tony Sakachi and the crew's readiness for the maneuver, which will circularize Atlantis's orbit to match that of the Hubble Space Telescope. The crew also discusses the upcoming mid-course correction burns and the configuration of the robotic arm for the capture operation.

This recording captures the rendezvous operations of Atlantis with the Hubble Space Telescope, occurring shortly before the NH burn at 7:17 AM. Distinctive moments include the first sighting of the Hubble by Commander Scott Altman at 8:16 AM, and the confirmation that the solar arrays on the Hubble are positioned correctly for capture. The NH burn, lasting 3 minutes and 17 seconds, raises Atlantis's orbit to closely match that of the telescope.

This recording captures the second flight day of Atlantis in orbit, featuring the crew's wake-up call for pilot Greg Johnson with the song 'Kryptonite' at 7:16 AM. Distinctive moments include the checkout of the flight support system for the Hubble Space Telescope and the unberthing of the orbiter boom sensor system for thermal protection inspections. The crew prepares for upcoming spacewalks by lowering cabin pressure to 10.2 psi, significantly reducing pre-breathe time for the astronauts.

This recording captures the waveoff of Space Shuttle Atlantis from its planned landing at Kennedy Space Center due to unfavorable weather conditions, occurring on Flight Day 12. Notable moments include the discussion led by Entry Flight Director Norm Knight regarding the weather forecast and the decision to target landing opportunities in California at Edwards Air Force Base. The crew is informed they will remain in orbit for an additional 24 hours, with the next deorbit burn planned for 7:02 AM Central Time the following day.

This recording captures the first spacewalk of the mission, during which astronauts John Grunsfeld and Drew Feustel conducted a series of critical tasks, including the installation of a berthing and positioning system support post. The spacewalk began at 7:52 AM CDT, following a 40-minute pre-breathe exercise, and marked Feustel's first EVA, while Grunsfeld, a veteran, was on his sixth. An off-nominal moment occurred when the crew had to troubleshoot a communication issue with Feustel's suit.

This recording captures the prelaunch activities of Space Shuttle Atlantis, focusing on the terminal countdown at T minus 2 hours, 37 minutes, 23 seconds. Distinctive moments include the crew's ingress into the shuttle, with Commander Scott Altman and Pilot Greg Johnson securing their seats, and the verification of liquid level sensors on the external tank. The hatch closure is scheduled for 12:01 PM, and the targeted launch time is set for 2:01 PM.

Launch coverage for STS-125, T-minus 3 hours to T-minus 2 hours 51 minutes. Key events include the planned 2-hour 30-minute hold starting at T-minus 3 hours, the fueling operation completion at T-minus 1 hour 38 minutes, and the astronauts boarding the Astro van for launch pad transfer. Notable speakers include Commander Scott Altman discussing mission preparations and Pilot Greg Johnson explaining the rendezvous with Hubble.

This recording captures the launch of Atlantis, occurring 52 minutes after liftoff. Distinctive moments include the successful execution of the OMS2 burn, which raised the shuttle's orbit from 33 miles to 125 miles, and the identification of a faulty transducer that posed no impact on the ascent. The crew, led by Commander Scott Altman, included pilot Greg C. Johnson and mission specialist Megan McArthur, who will operate the robotic arm during the mission.

Launch coverage for STS-125, T-minus 40 minutes to liftoff. The countdown includes a built-in hold at T-minus 20 minutes, with a notable ice inspection team dispatched to assess ice on the LH2 umbilical. Liftoff occurs at 18:01:56, followed by key ascent milestones including solid rocket booster separation at 2 minutes 2 seconds and main engine cutoff confirmed shortly thereafter. Flight Director Norm Knight oversees the ascent team, ensuring all systems are nominal despite a faulty transducer.