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CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. –   In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility, workers secure a carrier for the STS-125 Hubble Servicing Mission on the work stand.  The carrier and stand will be moved to scaffolding. The carrier, or pallet, will hold the flight support system equipment in space shuttle Atlantis’ payload bay. This and other carriers will be prepared for the integration of telescope science instruments, both internal and external replacement components, as well as the flight support equipment to be used by the astronauts during the servicing mission.  The three payload carriers are the Flight Support System, the Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier and the Orbital Replacement Unit Carrier.  At the end of July, a fourth and final carrier, the Multi-Use Lightweight Equipment carrier will join the others in the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility where the Hubble payload is being prepared for the targeted Oct . 8 launch.  Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-08pd2029

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility, ...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility, workers secure a carrier for the STS-125 Hubble Servicing Mission on the work stand. The carrier and stand will be moved to scaffolding. Th... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. –  In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, an overhead crane lifts the newly arrived ground support equipment for the STS-125 Hubble Servicing Mission off its transporter.  The GSE are carriers, or pallets, that will hold equipment in space shuttle Atlantis’ payload bay.  Under the protective covering of the carrier can be seen the soft capture mechanism. This carrier will be moved to a work stand.  The carriers will be prepared for the integration of telescope science instruments, both internal and external replacement components, as well as the flight support equipment to be used by the astronauts during the servicing mission.  The three payload carriers or pallets are the Flight Support System, the Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier and the Orbital Replacement Unit Carrier.  At the end of July, a fourth and final carrier, the Multi-Use Lightweight Equipment carrier will join the others in the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility where the Hubble payload is being prepared for launch. Photo credit: NASA/Cory Huston KSC-08pd2008

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, an overhead crane lifts the newly arrived ground support equipment for the STS-125 Hubble Servicing Mission of... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. –  In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, the overhead crane lifts the ground support equipment for the STS-125 Hubble Servicing Mission away from the thermal vacuum fixture.  The GSE are carriers, or pallets, that will hold equipment in space shuttle Atlantis’ payload bay.  Under the protective covering of the carrier can be seen the soft capture mechanism.  The carrier will be moved to a work stand. The carriers will be prepared for the integration of telescope science instruments, both internal and external replacement components, as well as the flight support equipment to be used by the astronauts during the servicing mission.  The three payload carriers or pallets are the Flight Support System, the Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier and the Orbital Replacement Unit Carrier.  At the end of July, a fourth and final carrier, the Multi-Use Lightweight Equipment carrier will join the others in the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility where the Hubble payload is being prepared for launch. Photo credit: NASA/Cory Huston KSC-08pd2014

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, the overhead crane lifts the ground support equipment for the STS-125 Hubble Servicing Mission away from the t... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. –  A second shipping container of major flight hardware for space shuttle Atlantis' STS-125 mission to NASA's Hubble Space Telescope is ready to be moved to the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center to begin preparations for its targeted October launch.   The container holds the Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier and the Orbital Replacement Unit Carrier.Thepayload carriers will be prepared for the integration of telescope science instruments, both internal and external replacement components, as well as the flight support equipment to be used by the astronauts during the servicing mission.  The three payload carriers or pallets are the Flight Support System, the SLIC and the ORUC.  At the end of July, a fourth and final carrier, the Multi-Use Lightweight Equipment carrier will join the others in the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility where the Hubble payload is being prepared for launch. Photo credit: NASA/Amanda Diller KSC-08pd2019

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A second shipping container of major flight ha...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A second shipping container of major flight hardware for space shuttle Atlantis' STS-125 mission to NASA's Hubble Space Telescope is ready to be moved to the Payload Hazardous Servicing ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the high bay of the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, the Flight Support System for the Hubble Space Telescope is lowered onto a work platform by workers from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. The Flight Support System, or FSS, is one of four carriers supporting hardware for space shuttle Atlantis' STS-125 mission to service the telescope. The Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier, or SLIC, and the Orbital Replacement Unit Carrier, or ORUC, have also arrived at Kennedy. The Multi-Use Lightweight Equipment carrier will be delivered in late July. The carriers will be prepared for the integration of telescope science instruments, both internal and external replacement components, as well as the flight support equipment to be used by the astronauts during the Hubble servicing mission, targeted for launch Oct. 8. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-08pd2066

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the high bay of the Payload Hazardous Servic...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the high bay of the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, the Flight Support System for the Hubble Space Telescope is lowered onto a work platform by wor... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. –  In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, the second shipment of hardware for space shuttle Atlantis' STS-125 mission to NASA's Hubble Space Telescope waits for removal in the high bay. The hardware consists of the Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier, or SLIC, and the Orbital Replacement Unit Carrier, or ORUC. Another payload carrier, the Flight Support System, has already been delivered,  and the Multi-Use Lightweight Equipment carrier will be delivered in late July. The carriers will be prepared for the integration of telescope science instruments, both internal and external replacement components, as well as the flight support equipment to be used by the astronauts during the Hubble servicing mission, targeted for launch Oct. 8.  Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-08pd2041

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, the second shipment of hardware for space shuttle Atlantis' STS-125 mission to NASA's Hubble Space Telescope w... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. –  The Multi-Use Lightweight Equipment (MULE) carrier arrives at the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. The MULE is part of the payload for the fifth and final shuttle servicing mission to NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, STS-125.   The MULE carrier will join the Flight Support System, the Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier and the Orbital Replacement Unit Carrier in the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility where the Hubble payload is being prepared for launch. The Relative Navigation Sensors and the New Outer Blanket Layers will be on the MULE. The payload is scheduled to go to Launch Pad 39A in mid-September to be installed into Atlantis' payload bay.  Atlantis is targeted to launch Oct. 8 at 1:34 a.m. EDT. .Photo credit: NASA/Amanda Diller KSC-08pd2291

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Multi-Use Lightweight Equipment (MULE) car...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Multi-Use Lightweight Equipment (MULE) carrier arrives at the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. The MULE is part of the payload for the fifth and f... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. –   In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, the Wide Field Camera 3, or WFC3, is lowered toward the Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier.  WFC3 is part of the payload on space shuttle Atlantis' STS-125 mission for the fifth and final Hubble servicing flight to NASA's Hubble Space Telescope.   As Hubble enters the last stage of its life, WFC3 will be Hubble's next evolutionary step, allowing Hubble to peer ever further into the mysteries of the cosmos. WFC3 will study a diverse range of objects and phenomena, from young and extremely distant galaxies, to much more nearby stellar systems, to objects within our very own solar system. WFC3 will take the place of Wide Field Planetary Camera 2, which astronauts will bring back to Earth aboard the shuttle. Launch of Atlantis is targeted at 1:34 a.m. EDT Oct. 8.  Photo credit: NASA/Amanda Diller KSC-08pd2473

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility a...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, the Wide Field Camera 3, or WFC3, is lowered toward the Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier. WFC3 is p... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, technicians clean contamination from the Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier, or SLIC. Contamination discovered Sept. 17 during preparations to deliver NASA's Hubble Space Telescope servicing payload to Launch Pad 39A. Cleanliness is extremely important for space shuttle Atlantis’ STS-125 mission to Hubble, and the teams have insured that the SLIC  is ready to fly. The SLIC, which holds battery module assemblies, is built with state-of-the-art, lightweight, composite materials - carbon fiber with a cyanate ester resin and a titanium metal matrix composite. These composites have greater strength-to-mass ratios than the metals typically used in spacecraft design. The carrier is one of four being transferred to Launch Pad 39A. At the pad, the carriers will be loaded into Atlantis’ payload bay.  Launch of Atlantis is targeted for Oct. 10.   Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-08pd2650

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at ...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, technicians clean contamination from the Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier, or SLIC. Contamination disc... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – On Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, space shuttle Atlantis' payload bay is filled with hardware for the STS-125 mission to service NASA's Hubble Space Telescope.  From the bottom are the Flight Support System with the Soft Capture mechanism and Multi-Use Lightweight Equipment Carrier with the Science Instrument Command and Data Handling Unit, or SIC&DH; the Orbital Replacement Unit Carrier with the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph, or COS, and an IMAX 3D camera; and the Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier with the Wide Field Camera 3. Atlantis' crew will service NASA's Hubble Space Telescope for the fifth and final time. The flight will include five spacewalks during which astronauts will refurbish and upgrade the telescope with state-of-the-art science instruments. As a result, Hubble's capabilities will be expanded and its operational lifespan extended through at least 2014.   Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2009-2982

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – On Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Cente...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – On Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, space shuttle Atlantis' payload bay is filled with hardware for the STS-125 mission to service NASA's Hubble Space Telescope. ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. –  In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, the Soft Capture Mechanism (SCM), part of the Soft Capture and Rendezvous System, or SCRS,  is being prepared for transfer to the Flight Support System, or FSS, carrier. The SCRS will enable the future rendezvous, capture and safe disposal of NASA's Hubble Space Telescope by either a crewed or robotic mission. The ring-like device attaches to Hubble’s aft bulkhead. The SCRS greatly increases the current shuttle capture interfaces on Hubble, therefore significantly reducing the rendezvous and capture design complexities associated with the disposal mission.  The FSS will join the Multi-Use Lightweight Equipment, or MULE, carrier, the Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier and the Orbital Replacement Unit Carrier as payload on space shuttle Atlantis's STS-125 mission. The payload is scheduled to go to Launch Pad 39A in mid-September to be installed into Atlantis' payload bay. Atlantis is targeted to launch Oct. 8 at 1:34 a.m. EDT. Photo credit: NASA/Troy Cryder KSC-08pd2432

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, the Soft Capture Mechanism (SCM), part of the Soft Capture and Rendezvous System, or SCRS, is being prepared ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. –  At the Canister Rotation Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, workers steam clean the shipping containers holding the first major flight hardware for space shuttle Atlantis' STS-125 mission to NASA's Hubble Space Telescope.  The containers will next be moved to the airlock in the Payload Hazardous Servicing facility where the hardware will be prepared for its targeted October launch.  The payload carriers will be prepared for the integration of telescope science instruments, both internal and external replacement components, as well as the flight support equipment to be used by the astronauts during the servicing mission.  The three payload carriers or pallets are the Flight Support System, the Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier and the Orbital Replacement Unit Carrier.  At the end of July, a fourth and final carrier, the Multi-Use Lightweight Equipment carrier will join the others in the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility where the Hubble payload is being prepared for launch. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-08pd1995

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At the Canister Rotation Facility at NASA's Ke...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At the Canister Rotation Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, workers steam clean the shipping containers holding the first major flight hardware for space shuttle Atlantis' STS-125 ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. –  Another container with flight hardware for space shuttle Atlantis' STS-125 mission to NASA's Hubble Space Telescope is moved toward the airlock in the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center.  In the facility, the hardware will be prepared for its targeted October launch.  The payload carriers will be prepared for the integration of telescope science instruments, both internal and external replacement components, as well as the flight support equipment to be used by the astronauts during the servicing mission.  The three payload carriers or pallets are the Flight Support System, the Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier and the Orbital Replacement Unit Carrier.  At the end of July, a fourth and final carrier, the Multi-Use Lightweight Equipment carrier will join the others in the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility where the Hubble payload is being prepared for launch. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-08pd1999

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Another container with flight hardware for spa...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Another container with flight hardware for space shuttle Atlantis' STS-125 mission to NASA's Hubble Space Telescope is moved toward the airlock in the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facilit... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. –  A container with flight hardware for space shuttle Atlantis' STS-125 mission to NASA's Hubble Space Telescope is moved toward the open door of the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center.  In the facility, the hardware will be prepared for its targeted October launch.  The payload carriers will be prepared for the integration of telescope science instruments, both internal and external replacement components, as well as the flight support equipment to be used by the astronauts during the servicing mission.  The three payload carriers or pallets are the Flight Support System, the Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier and the Orbital Replacement Unit Carrier.  At the end of July, a fourth and final carrier, the Multi-Use Lightweight Equipment carrier will join the others in the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility where the Hubble payload is being prepared for launch. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-08pd2000

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A container with flight hardware for space shu...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A container with flight hardware for space shuttle Atlantis' STS-125 mission to NASA's Hubble Space Telescope is moved toward the open door of the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. –   A container with flight hardware for space shuttle Atlantis' STS-125 mission to NASA's Hubble Space Telescope is moved into the airlock in the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center.  In the facility, the hardware will be prepared for its targeted October launch. The payload carriers will be prepared for the integration of telescope science instruments, both internal and external replacement components, as well as the flight support equipment to be used by the astronauts during the servicing mission.  The three payload carriers or pallets are the Flight Support System, the Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier and the Orbital Replacement Unit Carrier.  At the end of July, a fourth and final carrier, the Multi-Use Lightweight Equipment carrier will join the others in the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility where the Hubble payload is being prepared for launch. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-08pd2002

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A container with flight hardware for space sh...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A container with flight hardware for space shuttle Atlantis' STS-125 mission to NASA's Hubble Space Telescope is moved into the airlock in the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NA... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the high bay of the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, the Orbital Replacement Unit Carrier, for the Hubble Space Telescope is unwrapped and awaits final processing for launch.  The Orbital Replacement Unit Carrier, or ORUC, is one of four carriers supporting hardware for space shuttle Atlantis' STS-125 mission to service the telescope. The Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier, or SLIC, and the Flight Support System, or FSS, have also arrived at Kennedy. The Multi-Use Lightweight Equipment carrier will be delivered in late July. The carriers will be prepared for the integration of telescope science instruments, both internal and external replacement components, as well as the flight support equipment to be used by the astronauts during the Hubble servicing mission, targeted for launch Oct. 8. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-08pd2084

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the high bay of the Payload Hazardous Servic...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the high bay of the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, the Orbital Replacement Unit Carrier, for the Hubble Space Telescope is unwrapped and awaits fi... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, an overhead crane removes the cover of the shipping container containing the hardware for space shuttle Atlantis' STS-125 mission to NASA's Hubble Space Telescope.  The container holds the Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier, or SLIC, and the Orbital Replacement Unit Carrier, or ORUC. Another payload carrier, the Flight Support System, has already been delivered,  and the Multi-Use Lightweight Equipment carrier will be delivered in late July. The carriers will be prepared for the integration of telescope science instruments, both internal and external replacement components, as well as the flight support equipment to be used by the astronauts during the Hubble servicing mission, targeted for launch Oct. 8.  Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-08pd2035

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at ...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, an overhead crane removes the cover of the shipping container containing the hardware for space shuttle Atlanti... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the high bay of the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, the protective wrapping has been removed from the Flight Support System for the Hubble Space Telescope revealing the soft capture mechanism , or SCM. The SCM will be permanently attached to Hubble’s aft shroud by spacewalking astronauts and will provide a rendezvous and docking target that can be easily seen and recognized by a docking vehicle. The Flight Support System, or FSS, is one of four carriers supporting hardware for space shuttle Atlantis' STS-125 mission to service the telescope. The Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier, or SLIC, and the Orbital Replacement Unit Carrier, or ORUC, have also arrived at Kennedy.    The Multi-Use Lightweight Equipment carrier will be delivered in early August. The carriers will be prepared for the integration of telescope science instruments, both internal and external replacement components, as well as the flight support equipment to be used by the astronauts during the Hubble servicing mission, targeted for launch Oct. 8.  Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-08pd2092

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the high bay of the Payload Hazardous Servic...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the high bay of the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, the protective wrapping has been removed from the Flight Support System for the Hubble Space Te... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. –  The shipping container with the Multi-Use Lightweight Equipment (MULE) carrier inside comes to rest in the airlock in the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center.  The cover will be removed in the airlock. The MULE is part of the payload for the fifth and final shuttle servicing mission to NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, STS-125. The MULE is part of the payload for the fifth and final shuttle servicing mission to NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, STS-125. The MULE is part of the payload for the fifth and final shuttle servicing mission to NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, STS-125.  The MULE is part of the payload for the fifth and final shuttle servicing mission to NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, STS-125. The MULE is part of the payload for the fifth and final shuttle servicing mission to NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, STS-125. The MULE carrier will join the Flight Support System, the Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier and the Orbital Replacement Unit Carrier in the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility where the Hubble payload is being prepared for launch. The Relative Navigation Sensors and the New Outer Blanket Layers will be on the MULE. The payload is scheduled to go to Launch Pad 39A in mid-September to be installed into Atlantis' payload bay.  Atlantis is targeted to launch Oct. 8 at 1:34 a.m. EDT. .Photo credit: NASA/Amanda Diller KSC-08pd2294

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The shipping container with the Multi-Use Ligh...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The shipping container with the Multi-Use Lightweight Equipment (MULE) carrier inside comes to rest in the airlock in the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Cen... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, the cover of the shipping container is lifted to reveal the Multi-Use Lightweight Equipment (MULE) carrier inside. The MULE is part of the payload for the fifth and final shuttle servicing mission to NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, STS-125. The MULE carrier will join the Flight Support System, the Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier and the Orbital Replacement Unit Carrier in the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility where the Hubble payload is being prepared for launch. The Relative Navigation Sensors and the New Outer Blanket Layers will be on the MULE. The payload is scheduled to go to Launch Pad 39A in mid-September to be installed into Atlantis' payload bay.  Atlantis is targeted to launch Oct. 8 at 1:34 a.m. EDT. .Photo credit: NASA/Amanda Diller KSC-08pd2297

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at ...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, the cover of the shipping container is lifted to reveal the Multi-Use Lightweight Equipment (MULE) carrier insi... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. –  In the clean room of the Payload Hazardous Processing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, workers attach an overhead crane to the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph, or COS.  The COS is being lifted and moved to a protective enclosure on the Orbital Replacement Unit Carrier, part of the payload for the fifth and final Hubble servicing mission, STS-125.   Other payloads include the Flight Support System, the Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier and the Multi-Use Lightweight Equipment, or MULE, carrier. COS will be the most sensitive ultraviolet spectrograph ever flown on Hubble and will probe the "cosmic web" - the large-scale structure of the universe whose form is determined by the gravity of dark matter and is traced by galaxies and intergalactic gas. The COS far-ultraviolet channel has a sensitivity 30 times greater than that of previous spectroscopic instruments for the detection of extremely low light levels. Launch of Atlantis on the STS-125 mission is targeted for Oct. 8. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-08pd2327

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room of the Payload Hazardous Pro...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room of the Payload Hazardous Processing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, workers attach an overhead crane to the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph, or COS. The COS is be... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. –  In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, technicians check the connections on the Soft Capture Mechanism (SCM), part of the Soft Capture and Rendezvous System, or SCRS, being mated to the Flight Support System, or FSS, carrier. The SCRS will enable the future rendezvous, capture and safe disposal of NASA's Hubble Space Telescope by either a crewed or robotic mission. The ring-like device attaches to Hubble’s aft bulkhead. The SCRS greatly increases the current shuttle capture interfaces on Hubble, therefore significantly reducing the rendezvous and capture design complexities associated with the disposal mission.  The FSS will join the Multi-Use Lightweight Equipment, or MULE, carrier, the Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier and the Orbital Replacement Unit Carrier as payload on space shuttle Atlantis's STS-125 mission. The payload is scheduled to go to Launch Pad 39A in mid-September to be installed into Atlantis' payload bay. Atlantis is targeted to launch Oct. 8 at 1:34 a.m. EDT. Photo credit: NASA/Troy Cryder KSC-08pd2443

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, technicians check the connections on the Soft Capture Mechanism (SCM), part of the Soft Capture and Rendezvous... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. –  In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, an overhead crane moves the Wide Field Camera 3, or WFC3, from its stand. The WFC3 will be transferred to the Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier.  WFC3 is part of the payload on space shuttle Atlantis' STS-125 mission for the fifth and final Hubble servicing flight to NASA's Hubble Space Telescope. As Hubble enters the last stage of its life, WFC3 will be Hubble's next evolutionary step, allowing Hubble to peer ever further into the mysteries of the cosmos. WFC3 will study a diverse range of objects and phenomena, from young and extremely distant galaxies, to much more nearby stellar systems, to objects within our very own solar system. WFC3 will take the place of Wide Field Planetary Camera 2, which astronauts will bring back to Earth aboard the shuttle. Launch of Atlantis is targeted at 1:34 a.m. EDT Oct. 8.  Photo credit: NASA/Amanda Diller KSC-08pd2469

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, an overhead crane moves the Wide Field Camera 3, or WFC3, from its stand. The WFC3 will be transferred to the ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. –  In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, technicians observe as the Wide Field Camera 3, or WFC3, is rotated to vertical.  The WFC3 will be transferred to the Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier.  WFC3 is part of the payload on space shuttle Atlantis' STS-125 mission for the fifth and final Hubble servicing flight to NASA's Hubble Space Telescope. The curved edge shown at top is the radiator, the "outside" of WFC3 that will be exposed to space and will expel heat out of Hubble and into space through black body radiation.  As Hubble enters the last stage of its life, WFC3 will be Hubble's next evolutionary step, allowing Hubble to peer ever further into the mysteries of the cosmos. WFC3 will study a diverse range of objects and phenomena, from young and extremely distant galaxies, to much more nearby stellar systems, to objects within our very own solar system. WFC3 will take the place of Wide Field Planetary Camera 2, which astronauts will bring back to Earth aboard the shuttle. Launch of Atlantis is targeted at 1:34 a.m. EDT Oct. 8.  Photo credit: NASA/Amanda Diller KSC-08pd2466

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, technicians observe as the Wide Field Camera 3, or WFC3, is rotated to vertical. The WFC3 will be transferred... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -  In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, an overhead crane lowers the Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier, or SLIC, into the payload canister. The SLIC, one of four carriers associated with the STS-125 mission to service the Hubble Space Telescope, will be moved to Launch Pad 39A.  At the pad, all the carriers will be loaded into space shuttle Atlantis’ payload bay. Launch of Atlantis is targeted for Oct. 10.  Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-08pd2724

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, an overhead crane lowers the Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier, or SLIC, into the payload canister. Th... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. –  At the Canister Rotation Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, workers steam clean the shipping containers holding the first major flight hardware for space shuttle Atlantis' STS-125 mission to NASA's Hubble Space Telescope.  The containers will next be moved to the airlock in the Payload Hazardous Servicing facility where the hardware will be prepared for its targeted October launch.  The payload carriers will be prepared for the integration of telescope science instruments, both internal and external replacement components, as well as the flight support equipment to be used by the astronauts during the servicing mission.  The three payload carriers or pallets are the Flight Support System, the Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier and the Orbital Replacement Unit Carrier.  At the end of July, a fourth and final carrier, the Multi-Use Lightweight Equipment carrier will join the others in the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility where the Hubble payload is being prepared for launch. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-08pd1997

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At the Canister Rotation Facility at NASA's Ke...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At the Canister Rotation Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, workers steam clean the shipping containers holding the first major flight hardware for space shuttle Atlantis' STS-125 ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. –  In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, workers begin to attach a crane to part of the ground support equipment for the STS-125 Hubble Servicing Mission.  The GSE are carriers, or pallets, that will hold equipment in space shuttle Atlantis’ payload bay.  This carrier will be moved to a work stand.  The carriers will be prepared for the integration of telescope science instruments, both internal and external replacement components, as well as the flight support equipment to be used by the astronauts during the servicing mission.  The three payload carriers or pallets are the Flight Support System, the Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier and the Orbital Replacement Unit Carrier.  At the end of July, a fourth and final carrier, the Multi-Use Lightweight Equipment carrier will join the others in the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility where the Hubble payload is being prepared for launch. Photo credit: NASA/Cory Huston KSC-08pd2006

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, workers begin to attach a crane to part of the ground support equipment for the STS-125 Hubble Servicing Missi... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the high bay of the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, workers from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center begin to lift the Flight Support System for the Hubble Space Telescope from its transportation canister. The Flight Support System, or FSS, is one of four carriers supporting hardware for space shuttle Atlantis' STS-125 mission to service the telescope. The Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier, or SLIC, and the Orbital Replacement Unit Carrier, or ORUC, have also arrived at Kennedy. The Multi-Use Lightweight Equipment carrier will be delivered in late July. The carriers will be prepared for the integration of telescope science instruments, both internal and external replacement components, as well as the flight support equipment to be used by the astronauts during the Hubble servicing mission, targeted for launch Oct. 8. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-08pd2061

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the high bay of the Payload Hazardous Servic...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the high bay of the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, workers from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center begin to lift the Flight Support System for the... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the high bay of the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, a worker from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center removes the protective wrapping from the Orbital Replacement Unit Carrier for the Hubble Space Telescope.  The Orbital Replacement Unit Carrier, or ORUC, is one of four carriers supporting hardware for space shuttle Atlantis' STS-125 mission to service the telescope. The Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier, or SLIC, and the Flight Support System, or FSS, have also arrived at Kennedy. The Multi-Use Lightweight Equipment carrier will be delivered in late July. The carriers will be prepared for the integration of telescope science instruments, both internal and external replacement components, as well as the flight support equipment to be used by the astronauts during the Hubble servicing mission, targeted for launch Oct. 8. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-08pd2078

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the high bay of the Payload Hazardous Servic...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the high bay of the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, a worker from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center removes the protective wrapping from the Orbit... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the high bay of the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, workers from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center remove the protective wrapping from the Flight Support System for the Hubble Space Telescope. The Flight Support System, or FSS, is one of four carriers supporting hardware for space shuttle Atlantis' STS-125 mission to service the telescope. The Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier, or SLIC, and the Orbital Replacement Unit Carrier, or ORUC, have also arrived at Kennedy.    The Multi-Use Lightweight Equipment carrier will be delivered in early August. The carriers will be prepared for the integration of telescope science instruments, both internal and external replacement components, as well as the flight support equipment to be used by the astronauts during the Hubble servicing mission, targeted for launch Oct. 8.  Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-08pd2090

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the high bay of the Payload Hazardous Servic...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the high bay of the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, workers from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center remove the protective wrapping from the Flight ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, an overhead crane lowers the Multi-Use Lightweight Equipment, or MULE, carrier toward a stand in the high bay. The MULE is part of the payload for the fifth and final shuttle servicing mission to NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, STS-125.  The MULE carrier will join the Flight Support System, the Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier and the Orbital Replacement Unit Carrier in the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility where the Hubble payload is being prepared for launch. The Relative Navigation Sensors and the New Outer Blanket Layers will be on the MULE. The payload is scheduled to go to Launch Pad 39A in mid-September to be installed into Atlantis' payload bay.  Atlantis is targeted to launch Oct. 8 at 1:34 a.m. EDT. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-08pd2312

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at ...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, an overhead crane lowers the Multi-Use Lightweight Equipment, or MULE, carrier toward a stand in the high bay. ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. –   In the clean room of the Payload Hazardous Processing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, an overhead crane settles the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph, or COS, in a protective enclosure on the Orbital Replacement Unit Carrier, part of the payload for the fifth and final Hubble servicing mission, STS-125.  Other payloads include the Flight Support System, the Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier and the Multi-Use Lightweight Equipment, or MULE, carrier. COS will be the most sensitive ultraviolet spectrograph ever flown on Hubble and will probe the "cosmic web" - the large-scale structure of the universe whose form is determined by the gravity of dark matter and is traced by galaxies and intergalactic gas. The COS far-ultraviolet channel has a sensitivity 30 times greater than that of previous spectroscopic instruments for the detection of extremely low light levels. Launch of Atlantis on the STS-125 mission is targeted for Oct. 8. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-08pd2339

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room of the Payload Hazardous Pr...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room of the Payload Hazardous Processing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, an overhead crane settles the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph, or COS, in a protective enclosu... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. –  In the clean room of the Payload Hazardous Processing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, an overhead crane lifts the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph, or COS.  The COS is being lifted and moved to a protective enclosure on the Orbital Replacement Unit Carrier, part of the payload for the fifth and final Hubble servicing mission, STS-125. Other payloads include the Flight Support System, the Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier and the Multi-Use Lightweight Equipment, or MULE, carrier. COS will be the most sensitive ultraviolet spectrograph ever flown on Hubble and will probe the "cosmic web" - the large-scale structure of the universe whose form is determined by the gravity of dark matter and is traced by galaxies and intergalactic gas. The COS far-ultraviolet channel has a sensitivity 30 times greater than that of previous spectroscopic instruments for the detection of extremely low light levels. Launch of Atlantis on the STS-125 mission is targeted for Oct. 8. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-08pd2330

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room of the Payload Hazardous Pro...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room of the Payload Hazardous Processing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, an overhead crane lifts the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph, or COS. The COS is being lifted a... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, the Soft Capture Mechanism (SCM), part of the Soft Capture and Rendezvous System, or SCRS,  is being prepared for transfer to the Flight Support System, or FSS, carrier. The SCRS will enable the future rendezvous, capture and safe disposal of NASA's Hubble Space Telescope by either a crewed or robotic mission. The ring-like device attaches to Hubble’s aft bulkhead. The SCRS greatly increases the current shuttle capture interfaces on Hubble, therefore significantly reducing the rendezvous and capture design complexities associated with the disposal mission.  The FSS will join the Multi-Use Lightweight Equipment, or MULE, carrier, the Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier and the Orbital Replacement Unit Carrier as payload on space shuttle Atlantis's STS-125 mission. The payload is scheduled to go to Launch Pad 39A in mid-September to be installed into Atlantis' payload bay. Atlantis is targeted to launch Oct. 8 at 1:34 a.m. EDT. Photo credit: NASA/Troy Cryder KSC-08pd2433

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at ...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, the Soft Capture Mechanism (SCM), part of the Soft Capture and Rendezvous System, or SCRS, is being prepared f... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. –  In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, technicians check the sensors on the Soft Capture Mechanism (SCM), part of the Soft Capture and Rendezvous System, or SCRS, after mating of the SCM to the Flight Support System, or FSS, carrier. The SCRS will enable the future rendezvous, capture and safe disposal of NASA's Hubble Space Telescope by either a crewed or robotic mission. The ring-like device attaches to Hubble’s aft bulkhead. The SCRS greatly increases the current shuttle capture interfaces on Hubble, therefore significantly reducing the rendezvous and capture design complexities associated with the disposal mission.  The FSS will join the Multi-Use Lightweight Equipment, or MULE, carrier, the Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier and the Orbital Replacement Unit Carrier as payload on space shuttle Atlantis's STS-125 mission. The payload is scheduled to go to Launch Pad 39A in mid-September to be installed into Atlantis' payload bay. Atlantis is targeted to launch Oct. 8 at 1:34 a.m. EDT. Photo credit: NASA/Troy Cryder KSC-08pd2446

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, technicians check the sensors on the Soft Capture Mechanism (SCM), part of the Soft Capture and Rendezvous Sys... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. –  In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, technicians check the placement of an overhead crane to the Wide Field Camera 3, or WFC3, that will transfer the WFC3 to the Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier.  WFC3 is part of the payload on space shuttle Atlantis' STS-125 mission for the fifth and final Hubble servicing flight to NASA's Hubble Space Telescope.  As Hubble enters the last stage of its life, WFC3 will be Hubble's next evolutionary step, allowing Hubble to peer ever further into the mysteries of the cosmos. WFC3 will study a diverse range of objects and phenomena, from young and extremely distant galaxies, to much more nearby stellar systems, to objects within our very own solar system. WFC3 will take the place of Wide Field Planetary Camera 2, which astronauts will bring back to Earth aboard the shuttle. Launch of Atlantis is targeted at 1:34 a.m. EDT Oct. 8.  Photo credit: NASA/Amanda Diller KSC-08pd2459

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, technicians check the placement of an overhead crane to the Wide Field Camera 3, or WFC3, that will transfer t... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, a technician cleans contamination from the Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier, or SLIC. Contamination discovered Sept. 17 during preparations to deliver NASA's Hubble Space Telescope servicing payload to Launch Pad 39A. Cleanliness is extremely important for space shuttle Atlantis’ STS-125 mission to Hubble, and the teams have insured that the SLIC  is ready to fly. The SLIC, which holds battery module assemblies, is built with state-of-the-art, lightweight, composite materials - carbon fiber with a cyanate ester resin and a titanium metal matrix composite. These composites have greater strength-to-mass ratios than the metals typically used in spacecraft design. The carrier is one of four being transferred to Launch Pad 39A. At the pad, the carriers will be loaded into Atlantis’ payload bay.  Launch of Atlantis is targeted for Oct. 10.   Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-08pd2648

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at ...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, a technician cleans contamination from the Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier, or SLIC. Contamination di... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -  In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, an overhead crane is moved toward the Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier, or SLIC.  The crane will move the SLIC to the payload canister for transfer to Launch Pad 39A. The SLIC is one of four carriers associated with the STS-125 mission to service the Hubble Space Telescope. At the pad, all the carriers will be loaded into space shuttle Atlantis’ payload bay. Launch of Atlantis is targeted for Oct. 10.  Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-08pd2718

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, an overhead crane is moved toward the Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier, or SLIC. The crane will move... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -  In the payload changeout room, or PCR, on Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, workers prepare for the transfer of the cargo inside the payload canister, at left.  Two of the four carriers seen behind the workers are the Orbital Replacement Unit Carrier (top) and the Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier.  The cargo will be transferred into the PCR via the payload ground-handling mechanism, or PGHM.  The PGHM removes payloads from a transportation canister and installs them into the shuttle. It is essentially NASA’s largest fork-lift.  Atlantis is targeted to launch Oct. 10.  Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-08pd2828

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - In the payload changeout room, or PCR, on Laun...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - In the payload changeout room, or PCR, on Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, workers prepare for the transfer of the cargo inside the payload canister, at left. T... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. –   A second shipping container of major flight hardware for space shuttle Atlantis' STS-125 mission to NASA's Hubble Space Telescope arrives at the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center to begin preparations for its targeted October launch. The container holds the Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier, or SLIC, and the Orbital Replacement Unit Carrier, or ORUC. The payload carriers will be prepared for the integration of telescope science instruments, both internal and external replacement components, as well as the flight support equipment to be used by the astronauts during the servicing mission.  The three payload carriers or pallets are the Flight Support System, the SLIC and the ORUC.  At the end of July, a fourth and final carrier, the Multi-Use Lightweight Equipment carrier will join the others in the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility where the Hubble payload is being prepared for launch. Photo credit: NASA/Amanda Diller KSC-08pd2021

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A second shipping container of major flight h...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A second shipping container of major flight hardware for space shuttle Atlantis' STS-125 mission to NASA's Hubble Space Telescope arrives at the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. –  In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, workers begin removing the shipping container cover over the hardware for space shuttle Atlantis' STS-125 mission to NASA's Hubble Space Telescope.  The container holds the Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier, or SLIC, and the Orbital Replacement Unit Carrier, or ORUC. Another payload carrier, the Flight Support System, has already been delivered  and the Multi-Use Lightweight Equipment carrier will be delivered in late July. The carriers will be prepared for the integration of telescope science instruments, both internal and external replacement components, as well as the flight support equipment to be used by the astronauts during the Hubble servicing mission, targeted for launch Oct. 8.  Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-08pd2033

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, workers begin removing the shipping container cover over the hardware for space shuttle Atlantis' STS-125 miss... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the high bay of the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, the Orbital Replacement Unit Carrier for the Hubble Space Telescope is secured on a work platform by workers from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center.  The Orbital Replacement Unit Carrier, or ORUC, is one of four carriers supporting hardware for space shuttle Atlantis' STS-125 mission to service the telescope. The Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier, or SLIC, and the Flight Support System, or FSS, have also arrived at Kennedy. The Multi-Use Lightweight Equipment carrier will be delivered in late July. The carriers will be prepared for the integration of telescope science instruments, both internal and external replacement components, as well as the flight support equipment to be used by the astronauts during the Hubble servicing mission, targeted for launch Oct. 8. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-08pd2074

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the high bay of the Payload Hazardous Servic...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the high bay of the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, the Orbital Replacement Unit Carrier for the Hubble Space Telescope is secured on a work platfo... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the high bay of the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, the Orbital Replacement Unit Carrier for the Hubble Space Telescope is lowered onto a work platform by workers from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center.  The Orbital Replacement Unit Carrier, or ORUC, is one of four carriers supporting hardware for space shuttle Atlantis' STS-125 mission to service the telescope. The Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier, or SLIC, and the Flight Support System, or FSS, seen behind the ORUC, have also arrived at Kennedy. The Multi-Use Lightweight Equipment carrier will be delivered in late July. The carriers will be prepared for the integration of telescope science instruments, both internal and external replacement components, as well as the flight support equipment to be used by the astronauts during the Hubble servicing mission, targeted for launch Oct. 8. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-08pd2072

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the high bay of the Payload Hazardous Servic...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the high bay of the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, the Orbital Replacement Unit Carrier for the Hubble Space Telescope is lowered onto a work plat... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. –  In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, the second shipment of hardware for space shuttle Atlantis' STS-125 mission to NASA's Hubble Space Telescope waits for removal in the high bay. The container holds the Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier, or SLIC, and the Orbital Replacement Unit Carrier, or ORUC. Another payload carrier, the Flight Support System, has already been delivered,  and the Multi-Use Lightweight Equipment carrier will be delivered in late July. The carriers will be prepared for the integration of telescope science instruments, both internal and external replacement components, as well as the flight support equipment to be used by the astronauts during the Hubble servicing mission, targeted for launch Oct. 8.  Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-08pd2040

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, the second shipment of hardware for space shuttle Atlantis' STS-125 mission to NASA's Hubble Space Telescope w... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the high bay of the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, workers from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center install the pallet support struts on the Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier for the Hubble Space Telescope.  The Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier, or SLIC, is one of four carriers supporting hardware for space shuttle Atlantis' STS-125 mission to service the telescope. SLIC is built with state-of-the-art, lightweight, composite materials - carbon fiber with a cyanate ester resin and a titanium metal matrix composite. These composites have greater strength-to-mass ratios than the metals typically used in spacecraft design. The Orbital Replacement Unit Carrier, or ORUC, and the Flight Support System, or FSS, have also arrived at Kennedy.     The Multi-Use Lightweight Equipment carrier will be delivered in early August. The carriers will be prepared for the integration of telescope science instruments, both internal and external replacement components, as well as the flight support equipment to be used by the astronauts during the Hubble servicing mission, targeted for launch Oct. 8.  Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-08pd2094

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the high bay of the Payload Hazardous Servi...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the high bay of the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, workers from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center install the pallet support struts on the Super... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the high bay of the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, this elevated view shows three carriers undergoing processing for space shuttle Atlantis' STS-125 mission to service the Hubble Space Telescope.  From left are the Flight Support System or FSS, the Orbital Replacement Unit Carrier or ORUC, and the Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier or SLIC.    The Multi-Use Lightweight Equipment carrier will be delivered in early August. The carriers will be prepared for the integration of telescope science instruments, both internal and external replacement components, as well as the flight support equipment to be used by the astronauts during the Hubble servicing mission, targeted for launch Oct. 8.  Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-08pd2099

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the high bay of the Payload Hazardous Servi...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the high bay of the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, this elevated view shows three carriers undergoing processing for space shuttle Atlantis' STS-... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. –   The Multi-Use Lightweight Equipment (MULE) carrier arrives at NASA's Kennedy Space Center for the fifth and final shuttle servicing mission to NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, STS-125. The MULE carrier will join the Flight Support System, the Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier and the Orbital Replacement Unit Carrier in the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility where the Hubble payload is being prepared for launch. The Relative Navigation Sensors and the New Outer Blanket Layers will be on the MULE. The payload is scheduled to go to Launch Pad 39A in mid-September to be installed into Atlantis' payload bay.  Atlantis is targeted to launch Oct. 8 at 1:34 a.m. EDT. .Photo credit: NASA/Amanda Diller KSC-08pd2288

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Multi-Use Lightweight Equipment (MULE) ca...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Multi-Use Lightweight Equipment (MULE) carrier arrives at NASA's Kennedy Space Center for the fifth and final shuttle servicing mission to NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, STS-125. Th... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. –  In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, technicians prepare to mate the Soft Capture Mechanism (SCM), part of the Soft Capture and Rendezvous System, or SCRS, onto the Flight Support System, or FSS, carrier. The SCRS will enable the future rendezvous, capture and safe disposal of NASA's Hubble Space Telescope by either a crewed or robotic mission. The ring-like device attaches to Hubble’s aft bulkhead. The SCRS greatly increases the current shuttle capture interfaces on Hubble, therefore significantly reducing the rendezvous and capture design complexities associated with the disposal mission.  The FSS will join the Multi-Use Lightweight Equipment, or MULE, carrier, the Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier and the Orbital Replacement Unit Carrier as payload on space shuttle Atlantis's STS-125 mission. The payload is scheduled to go to Launch Pad 39A in mid-September to be installed into Atlantis' payload bay. Atlantis is targeted to launch Oct. 8 at 1:34 a.m. EDT. Photo credit: NASA/Troy Cryder KSC-08pd2442

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, technicians prepare to mate the Soft Capture Mechanism (SCM), part of the Soft Capture and Rendezvous System, ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. –   In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, the Wide Field Camera 3, or WFC3, is moved toward the Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier.  WFC3 is part of the payload on space shuttle Atlantis' STS-125 mission for the fifth and final Hubble servicing flight to NASA's Hubble Space Telescope.  As Hubble enters the last stage of its life, WFC3 will be Hubble's next evolutionary step, allowing Hubble to peer ever further into the mysteries of the cosmos. WFC3 will study a diverse range of objects and phenomena, from young and extremely distant galaxies, to much more nearby stellar systems, to objects within our very own solar system. WFC3 will take the place of Wide Field Planetary Camera 2, which astronauts will bring back to Earth aboard the shuttle. Launch of Atlantis is targeted at 1:34 a.m. EDT Oct. 8.  Photo credit: NASA/Amanda Diller KSC-08pd2472

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility a...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, the Wide Field Camera 3, or WFC3, is moved toward the Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier. WFC3 is par... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, a technician cleans contamination from the Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier, or SLIC. Contamination discovered Sept. 17 during preparations to deliver NASA's Hubble Space Telescope servicing payload to Launch Pad 39A. Cleanliness is extremely important for space shuttle Atlantis’ STS-125 mission to Hubble, and the teams have insured that the SLIC  is ready to fly. The SLIC, which holds battery module assemblies, is built with state-of-the-art, lightweight, composite materials - carbon fiber with a cyanate ester resin and a titanium metal matrix composite. These composites have greater strength-to-mass ratios than the metals typically used in spacecraft design. The carrier is one of four being transferred to Launch Pad 39A. At the pad, the carriers will be loaded into Atlantis’ payload bay.  Launch of Atlantis is targeted for Oct. 10.   Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-08pd2651

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at ...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, a technician cleans contamination from the Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier, or SLIC. Contamination di... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -   In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, an overhead crane is attached to the Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier, or SLIC.  The crane will move the SLIC to the payload canister for transfer to Launch Pad 39A. The SLIC is one of four carriers associated with the STS-125 mission to service the Hubble Space Telescope. At the pad, all the carriers will be loaded into space shuttle Atlantis’ payload bay. Launch of Atlantis is targeted for Oct. 10.  Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-08pd2719

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility a...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, an overhead crane is attached to the Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier, or SLIC. The crane will move... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -   Inside the payload changeout room, or PCR, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center Launch Pad 39A, workers prepare for the transfer of the payload from the canister into the PCR.  The payload comprises four carriers holding various equipment for the STS-125 mission aboard space shuttle Atlantis to service NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope.   From top to bottom are the Multi-Use Logistic Equipment carrier, the Flight Support System carrier, the Orbital Replacment Unit Carrier and the Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier.  The PCR is the enclosed, environmentally controlled portion of the rotating service structure that supports cargo delivery to the pad and subsequent vertical installation into the shuttle’s payload bay. Launch of Atlantis is targeted for Oct. 10. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-08pd2803

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Inside the payload changeout room, or PCR, at...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Inside the payload changeout room, or PCR, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center Launch Pad 39A, workers prepare for the transfer of the payload from the canister into the PCR. The payload co... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility, or PHSF, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, workers watch as the Orbital Replacement Unit Carrier, or ORUC, is lowered from the payload canister which transported the Hubble Space Telescope equipment back to the clean room from Launch Pad 39A.  In the foreground is the Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier, or SLIC.  The payload for Hubble servicing mission 4 comprises four carriers holding various equipment for the mission. In the PHSF, the carriers will be stored until a new target launch date in 2009 can be set for Atlantis’ STS-125 mission. Atlantis’ October target launch date was delayed after a device on board Hubble, used in the storage and transmission of science data to Earth, shut down on Sept. 27. Replacing the broken device will be added to Atlantis’ servicing mission to the telescope.  Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-08pd3240

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility, or...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility, or PHSF, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, workers watch as the Orbital Replacement Unit Carrier, or ORUC, is lowered from the payloa... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. –  The first major flight hardware for space shuttle Atlantis' STS-125 mission to NASA's Hubble Space Telescope arrives at NASA's Kennedy Space Center to begin preparations for its targeted October launch.  The payload carriers will be prepared for the integration of telescope science instruments, both internal and external replacement components, as well as the flight support equipment to be used by the astronauts during the servicing mission.  The three payload carriers or pallets are the Flight Support System, the Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier and the Orbital Replacement Unit Carrier.  At the end of July, a fourth and final carrier, the Multi-Use Lightweight Equipment carrier will join the others in the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility where the Hubble payload is being prepared for launch. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-08pd1990

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The first major flight hardware for space shut...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The first major flight hardware for space shuttle Atlantis' STS-125 mission to NASA's Hubble Space Telescope arrives at NASA's Kennedy Space Center to begin preparations for its targeted... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. –  In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility, workers move a carrier for the STS-125 Hubble Servicing Mission to scaffolding.  The carrier, or pallet, will hold the flight support system equipment in space shuttle Atlantis’ payload bay.  This and other carriers will be prepared for the integration of telescope science instruments, both internal and external replacement components, as well as the flight support equipment to be used by the astronauts during the servicing mission.  The three payload carriers are the Flight Support System, the Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier and the Orbital Replacement Unit Carrier.  At the end of July, a fourth and final carrier, the Multi-Use Lightweight Equipment carrier will join the others in the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility where the Hubble payload is being prepared for the targeted Oct . 8 launch.  Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-08pd2031

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility, w...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility, workers move a carrier for the STS-125 Hubble Servicing Mission to scaffolding. The carrier, or pallet, will hold the flight support system ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. –   In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, the overhead crane lowers the ground support equipment for the STS-125 Hubble Servicing Mission into a thermal vacuum fixture.  The GSE are carriers, or pallets, that will hold equipment in space shuttle Atlantis’ payload bay.  Under the protective covering of the carrier can be seen the soft capture mechanism. The carriers will be prepared for the integration of telescope science instruments, both internal and external replacement components, as well as the flight support equipment to be used by the astronauts during the servicing mission.  The three payload carriers or pallets are the Flight Support System, the Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier and the Orbital Replacement Unit Carrier.  At the end of July, a fourth and final carrier, the Multi-Use Lightweight Equipment carrier will join the others in the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility where the Hubble payload is being prepared for launch. Photo credit: NASA/Cory Huston KSC-08pd2012

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility a...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, the overhead crane lowers the ground support equipment for the STS-125 Hubble Servicing Mission into a therma... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. –   In In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility, workers begin to move a carrier for the STS-125 Hubble Servicing Mission to nearby scaffolding.  The carrier, or pallet, will hold the flight support system equipment in space shuttle Atlantis’ payload bay. This and other carriers will be prepared for the integration of telescope science instruments, both internal and external replacement components, as well as the flight support equipment to be used by the astronauts during the servicing mission.  The three payload carriers are the Flight Support System, the Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier and the Orbital Replacement Unit Carrier.  At the end of July, a fourth and final carrier, the Multi-Use Lightweight Equipment carrier will join the others in the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility where the Hubble payload is being prepared for the targeted Oct . 8 launch.  Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-08pd2030

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facilit...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility, workers begin to move a carrier for the STS-125 Hubble Servicing Mission to nearby scaffolding. The carrier, or pallet, will hold the fl... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. –  A second shipping container of major flight hardware for space shuttle Atlantis' STS-125 mission to NASA's Hubble Space Telescope is transported to the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center to begin preparations for its targeted October launch.  The container holds the Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier, or SLIC, and the Orbital Replacement Unit Carrier, or ORUC. The payload carriers will be prepared for the integration of telescope science instruments, both internal and external replacement components, as well as the flight support equipment to be used by the astronauts during the servicing mission.  The three payload carriers or pallets are the Flight Support System, the SLIC and the ORUC.  At the end of July, a fourth and final carrier, the Multi-Use Lightweight Equipment carrier will join the others in the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility where the Hubble payload is being prepared for launch. Photo credit: NASA/Amanda Diller KSC-08pd2020

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A second shipping container of major flight ha...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A second shipping container of major flight hardware for space shuttle Atlantis' STS-125 mission to NASA's Hubble Space Telescope is transported to the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facili... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the high bay of the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, workers from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center begin to remove the protective wrapping from the Orbital Replacement Unit Carrier for the Hubble Space Telescope. The Orbital Replacement Unit Carrier, or ORUC, is one of four carriers supporting hardware for space shuttle Atlantis' STS-125 mission to service the telescope. The Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier, or SLIC, and the Flight Support System, or FSS, have also arrived at Kennedy. The Multi-Use Lightweight Equipment carrier will be delivered in late July. The carriers will be prepared for the integration of telescope science instruments, both internal and external replacement components, as well as the flight support equipment to be used by the astronauts during the Hubble servicing mission, targeted for launch Oct. 8. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-08pd2075

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the high bay of the Payload Hazardous Servic...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the high bay of the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, workers from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center begin to remove the protective wrapping from th... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the high bay of the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, a worker from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center cuts away the protective wrapping from the Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier for the Hubble Space Telescope.  The Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier, or SLIC, is one of four carriers supporting hardware for space shuttle Atlantis' STS-125 mission to service the telescope. The Orbital Replacement Unit Carrier, or ORUC, and the Flight Support System, or FSS, have also arrived at Kennedy. The Multi-Use Lightweight Equipment carrier will be delivered in late July. The carriers will be prepared for the integration of telescope science instruments, both internal and external replacement components, as well as the flight support equipment to be used by the astronauts during the Hubble servicing mission, targeted for launch Oct. 8. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-08pd2082

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the high bay of the Payload Hazardous Servic...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the high bay of the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, a worker from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center cuts away the protective wrapping from the Sup... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. –  In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, hardware for space shuttle Atlantis' STS-125 mission to NASA's Hubble Space Telescope is moved into the high bay, joining the Flight Support System already stored. The container holds the Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier, or SLIC, and the Orbital Replacement Unit Carrier, or ORUC. Another payload carrier, the Flight Support System, has already been delivered,  and the Multi-Use Lightweight Equipment carrier will be delivered in late July. The carriers will be prepared for the integration of telescope science instruments, both internal and external replacement components, as well as the flight support equipment to be used by the astronauts during the Hubble servicing mission, targeted for launch Oct. 8.  Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-08pd2038

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, hardware for space shuttle Atlantis' STS-125 mission to NASA's Hubble Space Telescope is moved into the high b... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the high bay of the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, the Flight Support System for the Hubble Space Telescope is lifted from its transportation canister by workers from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. The Flight Support System, or FSS, is one of four carriers supporting hardware for space shuttle Atlantis' STS-125 mission to service the telescope. The Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier, or SLIC, and the Orbital Replacement Unit Carrier, or ORUC, have also arrived at Kennedy. The Multi-Use Lightweight Equipment carrier will be delivered in late July. The carriers will be prepared for the integration of telescope science instruments, both internal and external replacement components, as well as the flight support equipment to be used by the astronauts during the Hubble servicing mission, targeted for launch Oct. 8. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-08pd2062

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the high bay of the Payload Hazardous Servic...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the high bay of the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, the Flight Support System for the Hubble Space Telescope is lifted from its transportation cani... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the high bay of the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, workers from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center move the Hubble vertical platform toward the Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier for the Hubble Space Telescope, to which it will be mated.  The Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier, or SLIC, is one of four carriers supporting hardware for space shuttle Atlantis' STS-125 mission to service the telescope. SLIC is built with state-of-the-art, lightweight, composite materials - carbon fiber with a cyanate ester resin and a titanium metal matrix composite. These composites have greater strength-to-mass ratios than the metals typically used in spacecraft design. The Orbital Replacement Unit Carrier, or ORUC, and the Flight Support System, or FSS, have also arrived at Kennedy.    The Multi-Use Lightweight Equipment carrier will be delivered in early August. The carriers will be prepared for the integration of telescope science instruments, both internal and external replacement components, as well as the flight support equipment to be used by the astronauts during the Hubble servicing mission, targeted for launch Oct. 8.  Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-08pd2087

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the high bay of the Payload Hazardous Servic...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the high bay of the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, workers from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center move the Hubble vertical platform toward the Su... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, an overhead crane is attached to the shipping container with the Multi-Use Lightweight Equipment (MULE) carrier inside.  The cover will be removed. The MULE is part of the payload for the fifth and final shuttle servicing mission to NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, STS-125. The MULE carrier will join the Flight Support System, the Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier and the Orbital Replacement Unit Carrier in the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility where the Hubble payload is being prepared for launch. The Relative Navigation Sensors and the New Outer Blanket Layers will be on the MULE. The payload is scheduled to go to Launch Pad 39A in mid-September to be installed into Atlantis' payload bay.  Atlantis is targeted to launch Oct. 8 at 1:34 a.m. EDT. .Photo credit: NASA/Amanda Diller KSC-08pd2295

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at ...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, an overhead crane is attached to the shipping container with the Multi-Use Lightweight Equipment (MULE) carrier... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Multi-Use Lightweight Equipment, or MULE, carrier is moved into the high bay in the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. The MULE is part of the payload for the fifth and final shuttle servicing mission to NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, STS-125. The MULE carrier will join the Flight Support System, the Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier and the Orbital Replacement Unit Carrier in the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility where the Hubble payload is being prepared for launch. The Relative Navigation Sensors and the New Outer Blanket Layers will be on the MULE. The payload is scheduled to go to Launch Pad 39A in mid-September to be installed into Atlantis' payload bay.  Atlantis is targeted to launch Oct. 8 at 1:34 a.m. EDT. .Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-08pd2305

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Multi-Use Lightweight Equipment, or MULE, c...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Multi-Use Lightweight Equipment, or MULE, carrier is moved into the high bay in the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. The MULE is part of the payloa... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. –  In the clean room of the Payload Hazardous Processing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, an overhead crane moves the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph, or COS, toward a protective enclosure on the Orbital Replacement Unit Carrier, part of the payload for the fifth and final Hubble servicing mission, STS-125.  Other payloads include the Flight Support System, the Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier and the Multi-Use Lightweight Equipment, or MULE, carrier. COS will be the most sensitive ultraviolet spectrograph ever flown on Hubble and will probe the "cosmic web" - the large-scale structure of the universe whose form is determined by the gravity of dark matter and is traced by galaxies and intergalactic gas. The COS far-ultraviolet channel has a sensitivity 30 times greater than that of previous spectroscopic instruments for the detection of extremely low light levels. Launch of Atlantis on the STS-125 mission is targeted for Oct. 8. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-08pd2332

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room of the Payload Hazardous Pro...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room of the Payload Hazardous Processing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, an overhead crane moves the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph, or COS, toward a protective enclos... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. –  In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, technicians wait for the rotation of the Wide Field Camera 3, or WFC3, in order to attach a crane.  The WFC3 will be transferred to the Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier.  WFC3 is part of the payload on space shuttle Atlantis' STS-125 mission for the fifth and final Hubble servicing flight to NASA's Hubble Space Telescope. The part shown here is the radiator, the "outside" of WFC3 that will be exposed to space and will expel heat out of Hubble and into space through black body radiation.  As Hubble enters the last stage of its life, WFC3 will be Hubble's next evolutionary step, allowing Hubble to peer ever further into the mysteries of the cosmos. WFC3 will study a diverse range of objects and phenomena, from young and extremely distant galaxies, to much more nearby stellar systems, to objects within our very own solar system. WFC3 will take the place of Wide Field Planetary Camera 2, which astronauts will bring back to Earth aboard the shuttle. Launch of Atlantis is targeted at 1:34 a.m. EDT Oct. 8.  Photo credit: NASA/Amanda Diller KSC-08pd2461

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, technicians wait for the rotation of the Wide Field Camera 3, or WFC3, in order to attach a crane. The WFC3 w... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. –  In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, technicians observe as the Wide Field Camera 3, or WFC3, is rotated.  The WFC3 will be transferred to the Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier.  WFC3 is part of the payload on space shuttle Atlantis' STS-125 mission for the fifth and final Hubble servicing flight to NASA's Hubble Space Telescope. The curved edge shown at the back is the radiator, the "outside" of WFC3 that will be exposed to space and will expel heat out of Hubble and into space through black body radiation.  As Hubble enters the last stage of its life, WFC3 will be Hubble's next evolutionary step, allowing Hubble to peer ever further into the mysteries of the cosmos. WFC3 will study a diverse range of objects and phenomena, from young and extremely distant galaxies, to much more nearby stellar systems, to objects within our very own solar system. WFC3 will take the place of Wide Field Planetary Camera 2, which astronauts will bring back to Earth aboard the shuttle. Launch of Atlantis is targeted at 1:34 a.m. EDT Oct. 8.  Photo credit: NASA/Amanda Diller KSC-08pd2465

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, technicians observe as the Wide Field Camera 3, or WFC3, is rotated. The WFC3 will be transferred to the Supe... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. –  In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, an overhead crane lifts the Wide Field Camera 3, or WFC3, high above the floor for transfer to the Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier.  WFC3 is part of the payload on space shuttle Atlantis' STS-125 mission for the fifth and final Hubble servicing flight to NASA's Hubble Space Telescope.  As Hubble enters the last stage of its life, WFC3 will be Hubble's next evolutionary step, allowing Hubble to peer ever further into the mysteries of the cosmos. WFC3 will study a diverse range of objects and phenomena, from young and extremely distant galaxies, to much more nearby stellar systems, to objects within our very own solar system. WFC3 will take the place of Wide Field Planetary Camera 2, which astronauts will bring back to Earth aboard the shuttle. Launch of Atlantis is targeted at 1:34 a.m. EDT Oct. 8.  Photo credit: NASA/Amanda Diller KSC-08pd2470

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, an overhead crane lifts the Wide Field Camera 3, or WFC3, high above the floor for transfer to the Super Light... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -  In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, the Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier, or SLIC, is uncovered so that technicians can clean contaminants found earlier.  Contamination discovered Sept. 17 during preparations to deliver NASA's Hubble Space Telescope servicing payload to Launch Pad 39A will be removed. Cleanliness is extremely important for space shuttle Atlantis’ STS-125 mission to Hubble, and the teams have insured that the SLIC  is ready to fly. The SLIC, which holds battery module assemblies, is built with state-of-the-art, lightweight, composite materials - carbon fiber with a cyanate ester resin and a titanium metal matrix composite. These composites have greater strength-to-mass ratios than the metals typically used in spacecraft design. The carrier is one of four being transferred to Launch Pad 39A. At the pad, the carriers will be loaded into Atlantis’ payload bay.  Launch of Atlantis is targeted for Oct. 10.   Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-08pd2647

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, the Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier, or SLIC, is uncovered so that technicians can clean contaminant... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -  On Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the open doors of the payload canister reveal its cargo -- four carriers holding various equipment for the STS-125 mission aboard space shuttle Atlantis to service NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope. From top to bottom are the Multi-Use Logistic Equipment carrier, the Flight Support System carrier, the Orbital Replacement Unit Carrier and the Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier.  The doors are open to the payload changeout room, or PCR.  The cargo will be transferred into the PCR via the payload ground-handling mechanism, or PGHM.  The PGHM removes payloads from a transportation canister and installs them into the shuttle. It is essentially NASA’s largest fork-lift.  Atlantis is targeted to launch Oct. 10.  Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-08pd2825

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - On Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Cent...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - On Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the open doors of the payload canister reveal its cargo -- four carriers holding various equipment for the STS-125 mission ab... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – On Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, space shuttle Atlantis' payload bay is filled with hardware for the STS-125 mission to service NASA's Hubble Space Telescope. From the bottom are the Flight Support System with the Soft Capture mechanism and Multi-Use Lightweight Equipment Carrier with the Science Instrument Command and Data Handling Unit, or SIC&DH.  At center is the Orbital Replacement Unit Carrier with the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph, or COS, and an IMAX 3D camera. At top is the Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier with the Wide Field Camera 3.  Atlantis' crew will service NASA's Hubble Space Telescope for the fifth and final time. The flight will include five spacewalks during which astronauts will refurbish and upgrade the telescope with state-of-the-art science instruments. As a result, Hubble's capabilities will be expanded and its operational lifespan extended through at least 2014.   Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2009-2980

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – On Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Cente...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – On Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, space shuttle Atlantis' payload bay is filled with hardware for the STS-125 mission to service NASA's Hubble Space Telescope. ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. –   In the airlock of the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, workers prepare to move the ground support equipment for the STS-125 Hubble Servicing Mission delivered July 16.  The GSE are carriers, or pallets, that will hold equipment in space shuttle Atlantis’ payload bay.  This carrier will be moved to a work stand. The carriers will be prepared for the integration of telescope science instruments, both internal and external replacement components, as well as the flight support equipment to be used by the astronauts during the servicing mission.  The three payload carriers or pallets are the Flight Support System, the Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier and the Orbital Replacement Unit Carrier.  At the end of July, a fourth and final carrier, the Multi-Use Lightweight Equipment carrier will join the others in the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility where the Hubble payload is being prepared for launch. Photo credit: NASA/Cory Huston KSC-08pd2004

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the airlock of the Payload Hazardous Servi...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the airlock of the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, workers prepare to move the ground support equipment for the STS-125 Hubble Servicing Mission ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. –   At the Canister Rotation Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, the shipping container with the Multi-Use Lightweight Equipment (MULE) carrier inside is pressure cleaned after its arrival. The MULE is part of the payload for the fifth and final shuttle servicing mission to NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, STS-125. The MULE carrier will join the Flight Support System, the Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier and the Orbital Replacement Unit Carrier in the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility where the Hubble payload is being prepared for launch. The Relative Navigation Sensors and the New Outer Blanket Layers will be on the MULE. The payload is scheduled to go to Launch Pad 39A in mid-September to be installed into Atlantis' payload bay.  Atlantis is targeted to launch Oct. 8 at 1:34 a.m. EDT. .Photo credit: NASA/Amanda Diller KSC-08pd2289

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At the Canister Rotation Facility at NASA's K...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At the Canister Rotation Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, the shipping container with the Multi-Use Lightweight Equipment (MULE) carrier inside is pressure cleaned after its arr... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -  In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, a technician uncovers the Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier, or SLIC.  Contamination discovered Sept. 17 during preparations to deliver NASA's Hubble Space Telescope servicing payload to Launch Pad 39A will be removed. Cleanliness is extremely important for space shuttle Atlantis’ STS-125 mission to Hubble, and the teams have insured that the SLIC is ready to fly. The SLIC, which holds battery module assemblies for servicing of the Hubble Space Telescope on the STS-125 mission, is built with state-of-the-art, lightweight, composite materials - carbon fiber with a cyanate ester resin and a titanium metal matrix composite. These composites have greater strength-to-mass ratios than the metals typically used in spacecraft design. The carrier is one of four being transferred to Launch Pad 39A. At the pad, the carriers will be loaded into Atlantis’ payload bay.  Launch of Atlantis is targeted for Oct. 10.   Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-08pd2643

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, a technician uncovers the Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier, or SLIC. Contamination discovered Sept. ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. –  After rotation of the Wide Field Camera 3 (background left), or WFC3, in the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, technicians check the data.  The WFC3 will be transferred to the Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier.  WFC3 is part of the payload on space shuttle Atlantis' STS-125 mission for the fifth and final Hubble servicing flight to NASA's Hubble Space Telescope. The curved edge shown at top is the radiator, the "outside" of WFC3 that will be exposed to space and will expel heat out of Hubble and into space through black body radiation.  As Hubble enters the last stage of its life, WFC3 will be Hubble's next evolutionary step, allowing Hubble to peer ever further into the mysteries of the cosmos. WFC3 will study a diverse range of objects and phenomena, from young and extremely distant galaxies, to much more nearby stellar systems, to objects within our very own solar system. WFC3 will take the place of Wide Field Planetary Camera 2, which astronauts will bring back to Earth aboard the shuttle. Launch of Atlantis is targeted at 1:34 a.m. EDT Oct. 8.  Photo credit: NASA/Amanda Diller KSC-08pd2467

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – After rotation of the Wide Field Camera 3 (bac...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – After rotation of the Wide Field Camera 3 (background left), or WFC3, in the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, technicians check the data. The WFC3 wi... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. –  A container with flight hardware for space shuttle Atlantis' STS-125 mission to NASA's Hubble Space Telescope is moved toward the airlock in the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center.  In the facility, the hardware will be prepared for its targeted October launch.  The payload carriers will be prepared for the integration of telescope science instruments, both internal and external replacement components, as well as the flight support equipment to be used by the astronauts during the servicing mission.  The three payload carriers or pallets are the Flight Support System, the Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier and the Orbital Replacement Unit Carrier.  At the end of July, a fourth and final carrier, the Multi-Use Lightweight Equipment carrier will join the others in the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility where the Hubble payload is being prepared for launch. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-08pd1998

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A container with flight hardware for space shu...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A container with flight hardware for space shuttle Atlantis' STS-125 mission to NASA's Hubble Space Telescope is moved toward the airlock in the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at N... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the high bay of the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, the Flight Support System for the Hubble Space Telescope is lifted from its transportation canister under the supervision of workers from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. The Flight Support System, or FSS, is one of four carriers supporting hardware for space shuttle Atlantis' STS-125 mission to service the telescope. The Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier, or SLIC, and the Orbital Replacement Unit Carrier, or ORUC, have also arrived at Kennedy. The Multi-Use Lightweight Equipment carrier will be delivered in late July. The carriers will be prepared for the integration of telescope science instruments, both internal and external replacement components, as well as the flight support equipment to be used by the astronauts during the Hubble servicing mission, targeted for launch Oct. 8. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-08pd2063

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the high bay of the Payload Hazardous Servic...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the high bay of the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, the Flight Support System for the Hubble Space Telescope is lifted from its transportation cani... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the high bay of the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, a worker from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center removes the protective wrapping from the Orbital Replacement Unit Carrier for the Hubble Space Telescope.  The Orbital Replacement Unit Carrier, or ORUC, is one of four carriers supporting hardware for space shuttle Atlantis' STS-125 mission to service the telescope. The Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier, or SLIC, and the Flight Support System, or FSS, have also arrived at Kennedy. The Multi-Use Lightweight Equipment carrier will be delivered in late July. The carriers will be prepared for the integration of telescope science instruments, both internal and external replacement components, as well as the flight support equipment to be used by the astronauts during the Hubble servicing mission, targeted for launch Oct. 8. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-08pd2079

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the high bay of the Payload Hazardous Servic...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the high bay of the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, a worker from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center removes the protective wrapping from the Orbit... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the high bay of the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, the Flight Support System for the Hubble Space Telescope is positioned onto a work platform by workers from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. The Flight Support System, or FSS, is one of four carriers supporting hardware for space shuttle Atlantis' STS-125 mission to service the telescope. The Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier, or SLIC, and the Orbital Replacement Unit Carrier, or ORUC, have also arrived at Kennedy. The Multi-Use Lightweight Equipment carrier will be delivered in late July. The carriers will be prepared for the integration of telescope science instruments, both internal and external replacement components, as well as the flight support equipment to be used by the astronauts during the Hubble servicing mission, targeted for launch Oct. 8. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-08pd2068

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the high bay of the Payload Hazardous Servic...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the high bay of the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, the Flight Support System for the Hubble Space Telescope is positioned onto a work platform by ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the high bay of the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, a worker from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center installs a pallet support strut on the Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier for the Hubble Space Telescope.  The Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier, or SLIC, is one of four carriers supporting hardware for space shuttle Atlantis' STS-125 mission to service the telescope. SLIC is built with state-of-the-art, lightweight, composite materials - carbon fiber with a cyanate ester resin and a titanium metal matrix composite. These composites have greater strength-to-mass ratios than the metals typically used in spacecraft design. The Orbital Replacement Unit Carrier, or ORUC, and the Flight Support System, or FSS, have also arrived at Kennedy.     The Multi-Use Lightweight Equipment carrier will be delivered in early August. The carriers will be prepared for the integration of telescope science instruments, both internal and external replacement components, as well as the flight support equipment to be used by the astronauts during the Hubble servicing mission, targeted for launch Oct. 8.  Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-08pd2096

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the high bay of the Payload Hazardous Servi...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the high bay of the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, a worker from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center installs a pallet support strut on the Super ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the high bay of the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, a worker from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center installs a pallet support strut on the Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier for the Hubble Space Telescope.  The Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier, or SLIC, is one of four carriers supporting hardware for space shuttle Atlantis' STS-125 mission to service the telescope. SLIC is built with state-of-the-art, lightweight, composite materials - carbon fiber with a cyanate ester resin and a titanium metal matrix composite. These composites have greater strength-to-mass ratios than the metals typically used in spacecraft design. The Orbital Replacement Unit Carrier, or ORUC, and the Flight Support System, or FSS, have also arrived at Kennedy.     The Multi-Use Lightweight Equipment carrier will be delivered in early August. The carriers will be prepared for the integration of telescope science instruments, both internal and external replacement components, as well as the flight support equipment to be used by the astronauts during the Hubble servicing mission, targeted for launch Oct. 8.  Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-08pd2097

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the high bay of the Payload Hazardous Servi...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the high bay of the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, a worker from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center installs a pallet support strut on the Super ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the high bay of the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, a worker from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center installs a pallet support strut on the Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier for the Hubble Space Telescope.  The Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier, or SLIC, is one of four carriers supporting hardware for space shuttle Atlantis' STS-125 mission to service the telescope. SLIC is built with state-of-the-art, lightweight, composite materials - carbon fiber with a cyanate ester resin and a titanium metal matrix composite. These composites have greater strength-to-mass ratios than the metals typically used in spacecraft design. The Orbital Replacement Unit Carrier, or ORUC, and the Flight Support System, or FSS, have also arrived at Kennedy.    The Multi-Use Lightweight Equipment carrier will be delivered in early August. The carriers will be prepared for the integration of telescope science instruments, both internal and external replacement components, as well as the flight support equipment to be used by the astronauts during the Hubble servicing mission, targeted for launch Oct. 8.  Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-08pd2098

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the high bay of the Payload Hazardous Servi...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the high bay of the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, a worker from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center installs a pallet support strut on the Super ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. –  The Multi-Use Lightweight Equipment (MULE) carrier is driven from the Canister Rotation Facility to the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center after the shipping container was pressure cleaned.  The MULE is part of the payload for the fifth and final shuttle servicing mission to NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, STS-125.  The MULE carrier will join the Flight Support System, the Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier and the Orbital Replacement Unit Carrier in the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility where the Hubble payload is being prepared for launch. The Relative Navigation Sensors and the New Outer Blanket Layers will be on the MULE. The payload is scheduled to go to Launch Pad 39A in mid-September to be installed into Atlantis' payload bay.  Atlantis is targeted to launch Oct. 8 at 1:34 a.m. EDT. .Photo credit: NASA/Amanda Diller KSC-08pd2290

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Multi-Use Lightweight Equipment (MULE) car...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Multi-Use Lightweight Equipment (MULE) carrier is driven from the Canister Rotation Facility to the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center after the ship... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. –  A transporter moves the shipping container with the Multi-Use Lightweight Equipment (MULE) carrier toward the open doors of the airlock in the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. The MULE is part of the payload for the fifth and final shuttle servicing mission to NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, STS-125.  The MULE carrier will join the Flight Support System, the Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier and the Orbital Replacement Unit Carrier in the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility where the Hubble payload is being prepared for launch. The Relative Navigation Sensors and the New Outer Blanket Layers will be on the MULE. The payload is scheduled to go to Launch Pad 39A in mid-September to be installed into Atlantis' payload bay.  Atlantis is targeted to launch Oct. 8 at 1:34 a.m. EDT. .Photo credit: NASA/Amanda Diller KSC-08pd2292

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A transporter moves the shipping container wit...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A transporter moves the shipping container with the Multi-Use Lightweight Equipment (MULE) carrier toward the open doors of the airlock in the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NAS... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Multi-Use Lightweight Equipment, or MULE, carrier is revealed after its protective cover was removed in the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. The MULE is part of the payload for the fifth and final shuttle servicing mission to NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, STS-125. The MULE carrier will join the Flight Support System, the Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier and the Orbital Replacement Unit Carrier in the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility where the Hubble payload is being prepared for launch. The Relative Navigation Sensors and the New Outer Blanket Layers will be on the MULE. The payload is scheduled to go to Launch Pad 39A in mid-September to be installed into Atlantis' payload bay.  Atlantis is targeted to launch Oct. 8 at 1:34 a.m. EDT. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-08pd2317

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Multi-Use Lightweight Equipment, or MULE, c...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Multi-Use Lightweight Equipment, or MULE, carrier is revealed after its protective cover was removed in the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. The MU... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. –  In the clean room of the Payload Hazardous Processing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, an overhead crane lowers the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph, or COS, toward a protective enclosure on the Orbital Replacement Unit Carrier, part of the payload for the fifth and final Hubble servicing mission, STS-125. Other payloads include the Flight Support System, the Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier and the Multi-Use Lightweight Equipment, or MULE, carrier. COS will be the most sensitive ultraviolet spectrograph ever flown on Hubble and will probe the "cosmic web" - the large-scale structure of the universe whose form is determined by the gravity of dark matter and is traced by galaxies and intergalactic gas. The COS far-ultraviolet channel has a sensitivity 30 times greater than that of previous spectroscopic instruments for the detection of extremely low light levels. Launch of Atlantis on the STS-125 mission is targeted for Oct. 8. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-08pd2334

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room of the Payload Hazardous Pro...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room of the Payload Hazardous Processing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, an overhead crane lowers the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph, or COS, toward a protective enclo... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. –  In the clean room of the Payload Hazardous Processing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, an overhead crane moves the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph, or COS, toward a protective enclosure on the Orbital Replacement Unit Carrier, part of the payload for the fifth and final Hubble servicing mission, STS-125.  Other payloads include the Flight Support System, the Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier and the Multi-Use Lightweight Equipment, or MULE, carrier. COS will be the most sensitive ultraviolet spectrograph ever flown on Hubble and will probe the "cosmic web" - the large-scale structure of the universe whose form is determined by the gravity of dark matter and is traced by galaxies and intergalactic gas. The COS far-ultraviolet channel has a sensitivity 30 times greater than that of previous spectroscopic instruments for the detection of extremely low light levels. Launch of Atlantis on the STS-125 mission is targeted for Oct. 8. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-08pd2333

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room of the Payload Hazardous Pro...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the clean room of the Payload Hazardous Processing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, an overhead crane moves the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph, or COS, toward a protective enclos... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. –  In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, technicians begin removing the cables from the crane holding the Soft Capture Mechanism (SCM), part of the Soft Capture and Rendezvous System, or SCRS.  The SCM rests on the Flight Support System, or FSS,carrier and will be mated to the carrier.  The SCRS will enable the future rendezvous, capture and safe disposal of NASA's Hubble Space Telescope by either a crewed or robotic mission. The ring-like device attaches to Hubble’s aft bulkhead. The SCRS greatly increases the current shuttle capture interfaces on Hubble, therefore significantly reducing the rendezvous and capture design complexities associated with the disposal mission.  The FSS will join the Multi-Use Lightweight Equipment, or MULE, carrier, the Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier and the Orbital Replacement Unit Carrier as payload on space shuttle Atlantis's STS-125 mission. The payload is scheduled to go to Launch Pad 39A in mid-September to be installed into Atlantis' payload bay. Atlantis is targeted to launch Oct. 8 at 1:34 a.m. EDT. Photo credit: NASA/Troy Cryder KSC-08pd2441

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, technicians begin removing the cables from the crane holding the Soft Capture Mechanism (SCM), part of the Sof... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -   In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, a worker attaches an overhead crane to the Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier, or SLIC.  The crane will move the SLIC to the payload canister for transfer to Launch Pad 39A. The SLIC is one of four carriers associated with the STS-125 mission to service the Hubble Space Telescope.  At the pad, all the carriers will be loaded into space shuttle Atlantis’ payload bay. Launch of Atlantis is targeted for Oct. 10.  Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-08pd2720

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility a...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, a worker attaches an overhead crane to the Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier, or SLIC. The crane wil... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -  In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, an overhead crane lowers the Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier, or SLIC, into the payload canister. The SLIC, one of four carriers associated with the STS-125 mission to service the Hubble Space Telescope, will be moved to Launch Pad 39A.  At the pad, all the carriers will be loaded into space shuttle Atlantis’ payload bay. Launch of Atlantis is targeted for Oct. 10.  Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-08pd2723

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, an overhead crane lowers the Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier, or SLIC, into the payload canister. Th... More

S125E005147 - STS-125 - Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier (SLIC) WSIPE

S125E005147 - STS-125 - Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier (SLI...

The original finding aid described this as: Description: Close-up, forward view of the Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier (SLIC) WFC3 (Wide Field and Planetary Camera 2) Scientific Instrument Protective... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the high bay of the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, a worker from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center cuts away the protective wrapping from the Orbital Replacement Unit Carrier for the Hubble Space Telescope. The Orbital Replacement Unit Carrier, or ORUC, is one of four carriers supporting hardware for space shuttle Atlantis' STS-125 mission to service the telescope. The Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier, or SLIC, and the Flight Support System, or FSS, have also arrived at Kennedy. The Multi-Use Lightweight Equipment carrier will be delivered in late July. The carriers will be prepared for the integration of telescope science instruments, both internal and external replacement components, as well as the flight support equipment to be used by the astronauts during the Hubble servicing mission, targeted for launch Oct. 8. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-08pd2076

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the high bay of the Payload Hazardous Servic...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the high bay of the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, a worker from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center cuts away the protective wrapping from the Orb... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, arcane moves the cover of the shipping container away from its cargo, the Multi-Use Lightweight Equipment (MULE) carrier. The MULE is part of the payload for the fifth and final shuttle servicing mission to NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, STS-125. The MULE carrier will join the Flight Support System, the Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier and the Orbital Replacement Unit Carrier in the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility where the Hubble payload is being prepared for launch. The Relative Navigation Sensors and the New Outer Blanket Layers will be on the MULE. The payload is scheduled to go to Launch Pad 39A in mid-September to be installed into Atlantis' payload bay.  Atlantis is targeted to launch Oct. 8 at 1:34 a.m. EDT. .Photo credit: NASA/Amanda Diller KSC-08pd2298

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at ...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, arcane moves the cover of the shipping container away from its cargo, the Multi-Use Lightweight Equipment (MULE... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. –  The first major flight hardware for space shuttle Atlantis' STS-125 mission to NASA's Hubble Space Telescope arrives at the Canister Rotation Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center.  After being steam cleaned, the hardware will be moved to the airlock in the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility where it will be prepared for its targeted October launch. The payload carriers will be prepared for the integration of telescope science instruments, both internal and external replacement components, as well as the flight support equipment to be used by the astronauts during the servicing mission.  The three payload carriers or pallets are the Flight Support System, the Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier and the Orbital Replacement Unit Carrier.  At the end of July, a fourth and final carrier, the Multi-Use Lightweight Equipment carrier will join the others in the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility where the Hubble payload is being prepared for launch. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-08pd1991

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The first major flight hardware for space shut...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The first major flight hardware for space shuttle Atlantis' STS-125 mission to NASA's Hubble Space Telescope arrives at the Canister Rotation Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. Af... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. –  At the Canister Rotation Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, workers steam clean the shipping containers holding the first major flight hardware for space shuttle Atlantis' STS-125 mission to NASA's Hubble Space Telescope.  The containers will next be moved to the airlock in the Payload Hazardous Servicing facility where the hardware will be prepared for its targeted October launch.  The payload carriers will be prepared for the integration of telescope science instruments, both internal and external replacement components, as well as the flight support equipment to be used by the astronauts during the servicing mission.  The three payload carriers or pallets are the Flight Support System, the Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier and the Orbital Replacement Unit Carrier.  At the end of July, a fourth and final carrier, the Multi-Use Lightweight Equipment carrier will join the others in the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility where the Hubble payload is being prepared for launch. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-08pd1996

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At the Canister Rotation Facility at NASA's Ke...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At the Canister Rotation Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, workers steam clean the shipping containers holding the first major flight hardware for space shuttle Atlantis' STS-125 ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. –  In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility, the flight support system carrier for the STS-125 Hubble Servicing Mission has been moved to scaffolding.  The carrier will hold the equipment in space shuttle Atlantis’ payload bay. This and other carriers will be prepared for the integration of telescope science instruments, both internal and external replacement components, as well as the flight support equipment to be used by the astronauts during the servicing mission.  The three payload carriers are the Flight Support System, the Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier and the Orbital Replacement Unit Carrier.  At the end of July, a fourth and final carrier, the Multi-Use Lightweight Equipment carrier will join the others in the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility where the Hubble payload is being prepared for the targeted Oct . 8 launch.  Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-08pd2032

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility, t...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility, the flight support system carrier for the STS-125 Hubble Servicing Mission has been moved to scaffolding. The carrier will hold the equipmen... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. –  In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, the overhead crane lowers the newly arrived ground support equipment for the STS-125 Hubble Servicing Mission toward a thermal vacuum fixture.  The GSE are carriers, or pallets, that will hold equipment in space shuttle Atlantis’ payload bay.  Under the protective covering of the carrier can be seen the soft capture mechanism.  The carriers will be prepared for the integration of telescope science instruments, both internal and external replacement components, as well as the flight support equipment to be used by the astronauts during the servicing mission.  The three payload carriers or pallets are the Flight Support System, the Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier and the Orbital Replacement Unit Carrier.  At the end of July, a fourth and final carrier, the Multi-Use Lightweight Equipment carrier will join the others in the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility where the Hubble payload is being prepared for launch. Photo credit: NASA/Cory Huston KSC-08pd2011

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, the overhead crane lowers the newly arrived ground support equipment for the STS-125 Hubble Servicing Mission ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the high bay of the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, the Flight Support System for the Hubble Space Telescope is lifted from its transportation canister under the supervision of workers from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. The Flight Support System, or FSS, is one of four carriers supporting hardware for space shuttle Atlantis' STS-125 mission to service the telescope. The Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier, or SLIC, and the Orbital Replacement Unit Carrier, or ORUC, have also arrived at Kennedy. The Multi-Use Lightweight Equipment carrier will be delivered in late July. The carriers will be prepared for the integration of telescope science instruments, both internal and external replacement components, as well as the flight support equipment to be used by the astronauts during the Hubble servicing mission, targeted for launch Oct. 8. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-08pd2064

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the high bay of the Payload Hazardous Servic...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the high bay of the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, the Flight Support System for the Hubble Space Telescope is lifted from its transportation cani... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the high bay of the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, a worker from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center cuts away the protective wrapping from the Orbital Replacement Unit Carrier for the Hubble Space Telescope.  The Orbital Replacement Unit Carrier, or ORUC, is one of four carriers supporting hardware for space shuttle Atlantis' STS-125 mission to service the telescope. The Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier, or SLIC, and the Flight Support System, or FSS, have also arrived at Kennedy. The Multi-Use Lightweight Equipment carrier will be delivered in late July. The carriers will be prepared for the integration of telescope science instruments, both internal and external replacement components, as well as the flight support equipment to be used by the astronauts during the Hubble servicing mission, targeted for launch Oct. 8. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-08pd2077

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the high bay of the Payload Hazardous Servic...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the high bay of the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, a worker from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center cuts away the protective wrapping from the Orb... More

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