Upgrading Hubble to Hubble 2.0

Hubble Space Telescope

HST Diagram

Hubble space telescope observes the universe 24 X 7. It collects tons of raw data, basically numbers in columns. Transferring these data to the earth and converting numbers to images requires extraordinary technologies and considerable amount of men power.

Monitoring and maintenance  of Hubble telescope is done by hundreds of scientists, engineers, and technicians at both NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center and the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI). They monitor its health, safety, and performance.

Ground Control Team at Goddard
Space Flight Center

Hubble's Ground Control :-
The Flight Operation Team at Goddard Space Flight Center monitors telescope's health and daily movements. The controllers direct Hubble's movements by sending commands via satellite to the telescope's on-board computer. The majority of Hubble's operations are programmed in advance, but controllers can also interact in real time with the spacecraft, telling it what to do and when to do it.

Upgrading Hubble :-
Hubble service missions (SM) are also very important in Hubble's better health and upgrades. There have been four of these service missions since its launch.


Restoring Hubble's Vision (SM1):-
Main objective was to install two devices to fix Hubble's vision. Two new instruments were also installed during this mission to improve Hubble's vision too. This successful mission not only improved Hubble's vision - which led to a string of remarkable discoveries in a very short time - but it also validated the effectiveness of on-orbit servicing.





Expanding Hubble's Universe (SM2) :-

Making Use of the Shuttle's Remote
Manipulator System (RMS)

This mission gave Hubble new infrared cameras to detect red-shifted radiation (this happened after the realization that the universes is expanding in a accelerating fashion). Another detector was also placed to detect black holes during this 10 day service mission.









Long Distance House Call (SM3A and SM3B) :-
Watch Pictures and Videos

This mission was dedicated to upgrading and fixing small things. They replaced small things like gyroscopes (plays very important role in pointing in right direction). In addition, an advanced central computer was also installed to efficiently store and transfer data. Hubble was given better power system, better infrared vision, and new steering equipments.






Making Hubble 21st century device (SM4) :-
Watch The Video of SM4 coverage



This is the last mission planned by NASA to upgrade Hubble. Hubble was equipped with even better instruments like Wide Field Camera 3, Wide Field and Planetary Camera 2, and Cosmic Origin Spectrograph. Since SM4 is expected to be the last astronaut mission to Hubble, one of the goal was to reinforce and reinvigorate the telescope's basic spaceflight systems. The team changed all of the batteries, gyroscopes and fine guidance system. This mission prepared Hubble to explore the universe for another 20 years.



Sources :-
http://hubblesite.org/the_telescope/team_hubble/
http://hubblesite.org/the_telescope/team_hubble/servicing_missions.php
http://hubblesite.org/the_telescope/team_hubble/access_hubble/
http://sm3a.gsfc.nasa.gov/gallery.html