Wide Angle: Hubble Telescope's Final Fix

NASA's Hubble Space Telescope receives its final visit from space shuttle astronauts for repairs and new gear
 

Floating Observatory

hubble space telescope orbit earth nasa
NASA's Hubble Space Telescope gets one final servicing mission, and it will be the last time humans may ever visit the floating observatory. The payoff for such a risky operation? A vast array of fixes and new equipment, and one of the best eyes in the sky. Credit: NASA
 

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NASA's Hubble Space Telescope is now perhaps the famous telescope in human history, and its draw-dropping images of the universe make it no surprise as to why.

Shortly after Hubble's April 1990 launch, however, it was regarded as a multi-billion dollar "white elephant" for some crushing technical problems.

But thanks to four separate visits by astronauts, the 24,500-pound observatory dug out of its rut and into astronomical glory.

The coming retirement of the space shuttle makes the fifth servicing mission (called Servicing Mission 4) -- scheduled for May 11, 2009 -- the last time human hands will touch Hubble.

Get behind the last hurrah to help the Hubble Space Telescope with this Wide Angle of top 10 lists, slide shows, videos and more!

  • Top 10: Hubble Telescope Fixes
    Hubble has received new eyes, a heart, wings and other robotic body parts. Browse 10 of our favorite fixes.

  • Top 10: Things You Didn't Know About Hubble
    Did you know NASA's Hubble telescope sports a gold pin? Or that its first fix started in a hotel shower? Get more amazing facts here.

  • Slide Show: Astronauts' Favorite Hubble Pics
    Which images are Hubble's best? Opinions run the gamut, but if anyone knows it's the astronauts who fix the space observatory -- Take a peek at their picks!

  • Video: The Skinny on Hubble's New Camera
    The Wide Field Camera 3 will let Hubble look deeper into space and further back in time than ever before. We get the details on the telescope's newest eyes.

  • Video: Hubble Awaits Final Tune-Up
    With one last Hubble servicing mission left, we find out exactly which upgrades await the space telescope.

  • Puzzle: Hubble Image Puzzlers
    Break apart and put back together some of the Hubble Space Telescope's most stunning photos.

Got something to say? E-mail your questions, comments or concerns to discoveryspace@discovery.com.

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Image Credits NASA

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