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

Could we be living inside a Black Hole?

Just a thought.

It makes sense!

Astronomer blows your mind

Astronomer changes the world as we know of.

Really????? 

Newton's 3 famous laws of motion changed the way we thought of nature. Newton used the observations of Galileo Galilei, an astronomer, to formulate newton's law of universal gravitation and laws of motion.

What about finding cool things?

Its astronomers who look into deep sky, look for the smallest hint, to find origins of everything. They came up with the theory of big bang, which blows minds of millions. Even more unbelievable is the discovery of dark matter and dark energy.

How about looking into past?

If you feel like looking into past, you should become an astronomer. They are best at it.

Astronomer look billions of years into past to find how mother nature works.

How about saving our lives?

Yes, astronomers might save our lives from dangerous natural disasters. They observe asteroids in our solar system and protect us from possible asteroid attacks. They also observe the sun closely to protect the earth from dangerous solar flares. 

Gravitational Lensing : Estimating mass of Dark Matter

Introduction :-
Dark matter is (almost) like normal matter; it has mass and volume. The difference is small, but very important. Unlike regular matter, it does not scatter Electromagnetic wave, so we cannot see it with telescope.

Gravitational Lensing :-
Even though it cannot be observed directly, we can use Einstein's Theory of General Relativity to calculate the mass of Dark Matter. He stated that light follows the curvature of space-time, hence when light passes through massive object, it is bent. The angle of deflection is :

G = gravitational constant
M = mass of an object
r = distance between mass and radiation
c = speed of light

Bent rays when passed through heave mass

Recent Discoveries :-

Discovered in 2007, Luminous Red Galaxy 3-757 interacts with another much more distant blue galaxy. This galaxy was re-observed in December 11, 2011 with Hubble Space Telescope.

LRG 3-757 in front of distant blue galaxy creating Einstein Rings

Approximate Mass of Dark Matter :-
Dark matter is believed to constitute 83% of all matter in the universe, and 23% of total mass-energy in the universe. 

Sources :-
Wikipedia : Dark Matter
Wikipedia : Gravitational Lensing
NASA Picture of the Day