The Voyager team stands behind a model of the Voyager spacecraft. Project Manager, Ed Massey, stands at the far left.
Click on image for full size
Courtesy of NASA/JPL
Missions Possible!
News story originally written on April 12, 2002
The servicing mission to
the Hubble Space Telescope in early March was a great success. The Telescope has been declared healthy and fit...and is better than ever! Though instruments will be tested for the next two months, routine science observations are being taken even now. And once the new Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) starts observing in early May, you can expect some images that are out of this world!
The Shuttle Columbia took astronauts to visit the Hubble and during five space walks, astronauts were able to service the Telescope. Another maintenance mission was done on the Voyager 1 spacecraft...but this time maintenance took place from Earth, because Voyager 1 is 7 billion miles away! This spacecraft was launched in 1977 and was slated as a 4-year mission. In 2002, Voyager 1 was still going strong, but needed a new position-sensing system, including a Sun sensor and star tracker. Luckily a back up was placed on the spacecraft when it was built. The current Voyager team activated this sensing system which has been working successfully since April 1, 2002.
In other mission news, Cassini has successfully completed a course adjustment and is well on its way to Saturn. Cassini was launched in October 1997 and will arrive at Saturn on July 1, 2004. Just two years to go!
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