For this astronaut, time is running out. A space walker, practice is a critical maneuver. Try to prepare space walking is hard, like you show up World Series without practice on the field, so to speak. It’s not working as well as we hoped. The pressure is on to get it right. In orbit, there is only one chance to save a dying explorer, the Hubble Space Telescope!
It is a mission so dangerous, for years NASA refused to attempt it. The risk to dying is one in seventeen, incredible, these are very brave people. Seven astronauts put their lives on a line on a rescue mission that world is watching. But can Bubble be saved?
The best known scientific instrument in history, the Hubble has revolutionized the astronomy and brought us unsurpassed views of the universe. It’s the most productive science instrument ever been made.
We didn’t know how big the universe was, how old it was. Because of Hubble, now we do! We didn’t know what black holes will exist. Because of Hubble, we now know black holes are everywhere. Hubble telescope is the first telescope that actually examines the composition of world surround the star. But the telescope is in jeopardy.
Half its science instrument including the camera that took these pictures are already dead. The only hope to rescue Hubble is shuttle mission. John Griensfield leads one team of space walkers. “The Hubble was designed to be serviced by people. To take things out, put things in, turn bolts, keep it running.” Leading the second team is Mike Messmino. “If we can fix Hubble with a new capability, it’s gonna make some great discoveries.”
But planning this mission and pulling it off require a massive seven year effort by a cask of thousands. NOVA is there each step of the way, documenting of project unrivaled in it’s complexity. This play as so many more tools that we designed from scratch. There we go. Hey, we got another one on. Witness day to day challenges, “Choreography is whether either makes you or breaks you. And unforeseen hurdles. They went in miserably!
And you start questioning yourself, you know, am I not doing it right? We’ve got to figure out ways to get passed those obstacles. We get one shot! Hubble has arrived on board Atlanta. Can any amount of training on Earth prepared this crews what awaits space? We’re ready to go outside.
NOVA gets an insider’s view of key moments of the servicing mission. Things will go wrong on orbit. They always do. [see the screen] Crew members are an hour behind to the time line. Plate one is out! Wow it’s unbelievable! You have raised the bar enormously because of suddenly you can see what human can do in space. And as fire up the telescope, what discoveries are await!
Hubbles Amazing Rescue! This fall on NOVA!
NOTE:The documentary is scheduled to televise to the public through PBS on October 13 (Tuesday).For more information, go to http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/hubble/