Hubble Space Telescope: On Its Way to Full Science Operations

After three weeks of in-orbit checkout, following its deployment from Space Shuttle Columbia on March 9, engineers and scientists at Goddard and at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore have declared the Hubble Space Telescope healthy and fit.

Initial checkout of the spacecraft and instruments has largely been completed. However, the calibration process for the instruments will continue for another two months. The new rigid solar arrays, coupled with the new Power Control Unit, are working perfectly, generating 27 percent more electrical power than the old arrays. This increase in power roughly doubles the power available to the scientific instruments. The new reaction wheel is operating normally.

The powerful new Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) is now undergoing its final optical alignment and focus checks. The image quality of individual stars observed in a standard calibration field is excellent. The Advanced Camera's light-sensing detectors are also working very well. It is anticipated that the first Early Release Observations of astronomical targets taken with the Advanced Camera for Surveys will be available in late April or early May.

For the complete status report, go to: http://www.gsfc.nasa.gov/news-release/releases/2002/02-051.htm