STS-82

STS -82 (English Space Transportation System) is a mission name for the U.S. Space Shuttle Discovery ( OV -103 ) from NASA. The launch took place on 11 February 1997. It was the second servicing mission for the Hubble Space Telescope, the 82nd Space Shuttle mission and the 22nd flight of the space shuttle Discovery.

Team

  • Kenneth Bowersox (4th space flight), Commander
  • Scott Horowitz ( second space flight), Pilot
  • Mark Lee ( fourth space flight), Mission Specialist
  • Steven Hawley (4th space flight), Mission Specialist
  • Gregory Harbaugh (4th space flight), Mission Specialist
  • Steven Smith ( second space flight), Mission Specialist
  • Joseph Tanner ( second space flight), Mission Specialist

Mission Description

In five spacewalks, the American astronauts of the space shuttle Discovery put the Hubble Space Telescope (HST ), which was captured on 13 February with the manipulator arm of the space shuttle and anchored in its cargo bay, up to date

The first departure of Lee and Smith on 14 February (6 hours, 42 minutes) were replaced with two new devices, two scientific spectrograph, the Goddard High Resolution Spectrograph Faint Object Spectrograph and the. With NICMOS (Near Infrared Camera and Multi- Object Spectrometer ) is an infrared spectrometer for the simultaneous analysis of multiple or large objects, whose supply of coolant should be enough for four to five years. STIS ( Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph ) on the other hand is a 2D Kameraspektrograph. Both devices have the dimensions of telephone booths. For installation and removal, respectively, an astronaut standing on a platform at the end of the manipulator arm, grabbed the device and pulled it slowly from the Device section of the HST. Then the manipulator was moved so that the device could be pushed into a pre-defined storage containers in the payload bay of Discovery.

On February 15, Harbaugh and Tanner got out for 7 hours and 27 minutes from the Discovery and exchanged a high-precision optical guide sensor, a portion of the associated control electronics (Optical Control Electronics Enhancement Kit ) and a magnetic tape recorder for scientific data. In their work, the astronauts discovered damage to the thermal insulation of the telescope. It was therefore decided on the following day, perform another spacewalk to repair this damage largely.

The third exit (Lee and Smith for 7 hours and 11 minutes) took place on February 16. At first, a data exchange unit is renewed and then an operating with a magnetic tape data recorder by an electronic recorder ( Solid State Recorder ) replaced, the recording can be played back simultaneously. In addition, a defective gyroscope has been replaced by a new one. The HST includes four such gyroscopes, by which the alignment of the telescope in space with high precision is possible. Each so-called Reaction wheel assembly consists of a plurality of individual discs which rotate at high speed and therefore provide a relevant torque to the change in position of the satellites. The rotational axis of the centrifugal system moved the entire satellite rotates relatively slowly in a different position due to its high mass. By resetting the rotor axis, the rotation is stopped in the desired position. Such a gyro system requires no fuel. To maintain the rotation only electrical energy is required. This comes from the solar cells of the space telescope.

The main task of the fourth exit on February 17 ( Harbaugh and Tanner for 6 hours, 34 minutes) was the replacement of an electronics unit controlling the solar panels ( Solar Array Drive Electronics). By this control, the cells are always optimally oriented toward the sun in order to achieve maximum electrical energy. Covers have been replaced also has several magnetometers. In addition, a multi-layer protection at two places was fitted with damaged insulation, which were located at the upper end of the telescope.

In the fifth, in addition scheduled exit on 18 February (5 hours, 17 minutes) were attached several thermal insulating covers on the device section of the telescope. At the end of this spacewalk ( extra - vehicular activity ) the astronauts had spent a total time of 33 hours and 11 minutes in free space.

During the mission, the orbit of the HST was raised with the engines of the shuttle by about 15 kilometers. On the morning of February 19, the bus -sized satellite was again suspended in space. The Discovery landed after a successful flight in Florida.

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