Batteries |
When astronauts return to the Hubble Space Telescope during SM4, they will replace all six of the telescope's 125-pound nickel hydrogen batteries. These batteries provide all the electrical power to support Hubble operations during the night portion of its orbit. + Read More |
Fine Guidance Sensor (FGS) |
The Fine Guidance Sensor (FGS) that will be taken to orbit on SM4 is an optical sensor that will be used on the HST to provide pointing information for the spacecraft and also functions as a scientific instrument for astrometric science. + Read More |
Gyroscopes - Rate Sensor Unit (RSU) |
During SM4, astronauts will replace all six of Hubble's gyroscopes, which are needed to point the spacecraft. Gyroscopes, or gyros, measure rates of motion when Hubble is changing its pointing from one target (a star or planet, for example) to another, and they help control the telescope's pointing while scientists are observing targets. + Read More |
New Outer Blanket Layer (NOBL) |
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During the HST SM2 in 1997 and subsequent missions, astronauts observed damage to some of the Telescope's thermal insulation. Years of exposure to the harsh environment of space had taken a toll on Hubble's protective multilayer insulation, and some areas were torn or broken. This multi-layer insulation protects the observatory from the severe and rapid temperature changes it experiences as it moves through its 96-minute orbit from very hot sun to very cold night. + Read More |
Soft Capture and Rendezvous System (SCRS) |
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Originally planned for Earth return on the Shuttle, Hubble's scientific life will now extend beyond the planned retirement date of the Shuttle in 2010. As part of SM4, engineers have developed the Soft Capture and Rendezvous System, or SCRS, which will enable the future rendezvous, capture, and safe disposal of Hubble by either a crewed or robotic mission. 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. + Read More |
Scientific Instrument Command and Data Handling (SIC&DH) |
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On Saturday, September 27, 2008 shortly after 8 p.m., Hubble experienced a failure of the Side A Control Unit/Scientific Data Formatter (CU/SDF), which is responsible for storing, formatting and transmitting Hubble science data to the ground. This forced a delay of Servicing Mission 4 until sometime in early 2009. The CU/SDF is a part of the Scientific Instrument Command and Data Handling (SIC&DH) unit that reside on the Bay 10 door of the HST. On October 25, 2008 the HST team was able to transition over to the Side B CU/SDF, returning Hubble to scientific operation. NASA hopes to replace the entire SIC&DH with a spare, currently undergoing testing, during SM4. |
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Hubble Engineering Component Location Graphics |
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