Shuttle Atlantis set to arrive at Hubble Wednesday

Space shuttle Atlantis is on a course toward the Hubble telescope, on track to arrive at the orbiting observatory Wednesday.

Tuesday, May 12th 2009, 12:04 pm

By: News 9

Shuttle Atlantis set to arrive at Hubble Wednesday

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) -- Space shuttle Atlantis is on a course toward the Hubble telescope, on track to arrive at the orbiting observatory Wednesday.
   Atlantis launched this afternoon on NASA's fifth and final trip to Hubble. At least one NASA scientist says he's feeling "wistful." Senior project scientist David Leckrone calls it "the end of the era of Hubble servicing."
   On the $1 billion mission, two spacewalking teams will replace the 19-year-old craft's batteries and gyroscopes, install two new cameras and try to fix two broken instruments. They hope the work will keep Hubble running up to another decade.
   With the telescope in an orbit full of debris, the mission poses a higher risk than normal. Endeavour is standing by on a launch pad for a rescue mission if one is needed.