Space Shuttle Atlantis Completes Hubble Repairs

The most recent mission of the Space Shuttle Atlantis appears to have been successful in fixing up the Hubble Space Telescope.  Five space walks were taken by astronauts to complete all the necessary repairs and upgrades.  NASA expects it to hold up another 5-10 years, and be able to provide pictures as good as, or better than what have previously been taken. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At one point during the mission, an astronomer took a picture of the Shuttle as it made a transit across the sun.  This is the first time anyone has taken a picture of the Shuttle in this manner.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This morning astronauts began preparations for a scheduled Friday morning landing to take place at 7AM Pacific Time at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.  A second opportunity is scheduled for 8:39 AM.

The Shuttle Landing Facility in Florida has a runway 15,000 feet long, and 300 feet wide.  This makes it just slightly larger than the runway at the Sunnyside Municipal Airport.

Wouldn’t it be something if spacecraft capable of taking off and landing from conventional runways could take tourists to space?  Don’t scoff too much.  There are already companies working on developing ways to start privately operated flights to space.  Who knows what the future will bring?