Repair mission to the Hubble Space Telescope

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (AP) — Atlantis’ astronauts headed out for another spacewalk Friday, this time to give the Hubble Space Telescope some new, badly needed gyroscopes and batteries. Replacing Hubble’s gyroscopes is the top priority for this final repair mission to the 19-year-old observatory. The gyroscopes are part of the telescope pointing system, and half of the old ones are broken. It was the second spacewalk in as many days for the Atlantis astronauts. On Thursday, another two-man team installed a powerful new camera and a computer data unit, after struggling with a stubborn bolt. NASA hoped for an easier, less stressful spacewalk Friday. In all, five spacewalks are planned so that the observatory — beloved by astronomers and many others for its breathtaking views of the universe — is at its apex while living out its remaining years. (16 images)

clipped from www.sacbee.com Astronauts John Grunsfeld, left, and Andew Feustel working on the Hubble Space Telescope The reflection in his helmet visor shows astronaut Andrew Feustel a high oblique scene looking toward the Red Sea NASA space shuttle Atlantis in silhouette Astronaut John Grunsfeld performs a spacewalk work on the Hubble Space Telescope as the first of five STS-125 spacewalks STS-125 mission specialist Michael Good is busy on Atlantis’ middeck The Hubble Space Telescope in the cargo bay of the Space Shuttle Atlantis The Hubble Space Telescope as seen from the Space Shuttle Atlantis The Hubble Space Telescope following the grapple of the observatory The space shuttle Atlantis lifts off May 11, at Kennedy Space Center in Florida The media photographs the space shuttle Atlantis people, waits to watch the space shuttle launch, near Veterans Park in Titusville, Fla