spacetoday.net: Hubble instrument repaired despite difficulties

Posted: Mon, May 18, 2009, 7:15 AM ET (1115 GMT)
STS-125: EVA #4 (NASA)

Two astronauts struggled with a recalcitrant handrail on the Hubble Space Telescope Sunday but were eventually able to complete repairs to one of the telescope's instruments. To gain access to the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph, astronauts Mike Good and Mike Massimino needed to remove a handrail that was in the way. One of the bolts securing the handhold was stripped and could not be loosened, so Massimino eventually bent the handrail until it broke free. The two were able to complete the repairs to the instrument during the eight-hour spacewalk, and initial tests indicated that the work was successful. The two were not able tot get to the spacewalk's other task, the installation of new insulation on the telescope's exterior; that work will be deferred to the fifth and final EVA of the STS-125 mission, scheduled for Monday.