STS-103 Hubble Capture
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
STS-103 Hubble Capture |
||
|
On 19 December 1999 at 6:50 PM CST (00:50 GMT 20 December),Space Shuttle Discovery was launched from Kennedy Space Center, Launch Complex 39B, Cape Canaveral Florida. on a mission to effect badly needed repairs to the Hubble Space Telescope. The flight of STS-103 was one of only four since the launch of Hubble, in 1990, which were dedicated to this purpose. ( The others were STS-61, STS-82, and STS-109) The seven member Crew made history, being the first Shuttle flight to be aloft on Christmas. The only other NASA flight to be in progress over the Christmas holiday was Apollo 8, in December 1968. Three EVAs (Extra Vehicular Activity or spacewalk) were carried out, accomplishing the upgrades and refurbishing which were necessary to keep the Hubble Space Telescope functioning the way it should (In fact, better than ever - JC). Total time outside Shuttle for the three was just about 24.5 hours. Two teams of Astronauts rotated on EVA to get the work done. EVA-1 took place on 22 December, EVA-2 on 23 December. EVA-3 was executed on 24 December, the only spacewalk EVER conducted on Christmas Eve. A planned 4th EVA was cancelled. Amongst the tasks completed were replacement of Hubble's outdated central computer, installation of new guidance gyroscopes, and a brand new solid state data recorder. Also added were new thermal protection shields made of stainless steel, and aluminized teflon sheets to further reflect heat from sensitive areas of the telescope. A safe landing took place 27 December at the KSC Shuttle Landing Facility at 4:20 PM CDT (22:20 GMT) on Runway 33. Total mission flight duration was 7 days 23 hours 12 minutes. The flight met all of it's goals flawlessly, and the crew were surely glad to be home after spending the Christmas holiday away from their families. STS-103 was the last Shuttle flight of the 1990s, but not of the 20th Century. The 20th Century ended officially at 23:59, 31 December 2000. The 21st Century actuall began on New Years Day 2001. |
 |
| STS-103
Liftoff |
|
 |
|
| Smith
On EVA |
|
 |
|
| Grunsfeld
On EVA |
|
 |
|
| HST
Release |
|
 |
|
| STS-103
Landing |
| THE
EVENT |
|
One of the most critical operations of STS-103 was the capture of HST using Discovery's robot arm. Although this event took place on 21 December, it wasn't broadcast until 22 December. This IS one of those rare cases when the footage was shot by an Astronaut using a hand held camera. The material was downloaded to Houston the next day, and broadcast live at the same time. Although the "jerkiness" which usually accompanies film shot by hand is not present here, we know that an Astronaut shot this footage by hand because it is mentioned in the commentary. It is likely that a mount was used to steady the camera. Because this footage was shot by hand, and sent down to Earth a day after the fact, we don't have those handy tracking maps NASA uses so often, to give us exact times and locations over the globe. This event took place in the middle of orbital night. The reason HST is so bright in these images, is that the Moon was full at the time, and high in the sky for Discovery. Interestingly, the Moon was rumored that December to be closest to Earth during Full Moon than at any time since the year 1866. It wasn't exactly true, but many people thought so. This factor did not make any noticeable difference to the video, however. The camera used appears to be a low-light black & white unit, and the iris is open further than it should be for a good clear image. A very unusual object appeared during this phase of the mission. There were several pieces of drifting ice or debris passing by as well. These are commonly seen when the Shuttle is using her maneuvering jets to close in for docking or capture operations. There are sometimes seen, at these times, objects which are "something else". Based upon years of observaional experience, these seem to be attracted to docking and undocking operations, as well as spacewalks. One such object was seen during the capture of the HST. It was strobeing, like the objects observed during the undocking of the Shuttle from the Mir Space Station during the flight of STS-84. (An article on the STS-84 anomalies is available on this site.) This object came fairly quickly from the bottom of the screen, slowed almost to a stop, hovered for a second or two, and proceeded toward top screen at a much slower pace. This anomaly, was in my opinion, not ice, nor was it debris. Several of these are seen throughout the sequence. These have a completely different appearance from the anomaly. The Crew of Discovery gave no ackowledgement that they had seen this object. The full view animated GIF seen below is composed of 20 frames. The frames have been brightened to allow an improved view of the object. It illustrates how the object moved at fairly high speed until it came "even" with HST, then moved off at a much slower velocity. I've never seen ice or debris behave in this fashion. So, I put it in the category of unknown. There are then three more animated GIFs at 120% zoom. One is color reversed, and one is embossed. Each of these is composed of 15 frames. The final animated GIF is included which shows an actual ice chip passing horizontally across the field of view. This GIF is added for your comparison. |
| THE
ANOMALY |
|
 |
This is the full view version. Note how the anomaly comes in from the bottom at a fast clip. When it arrives at a point "next" to the HST solar panel, it momentarily stops. From there it proceeds at a much slower pace than before. Ice and debris do NOT do this, as they have no means of propulsion. |
|
ENHANCEMENTS |
|
 |
Now you are looking at the 120% zoom version. We have a little bit better view of the object and its behavior in this one. The motion is still enigmatic. I tried zooming in further, but there was nothing to be gained. |
 |
This is the color reversed animation. For some, this is easier to watch. |
 |
In this embossed version, the object really stands out in 3D. |
 |
This is a 300% blow-up of the best frame containing the object. Other than being brightened, there are no other enhancements. |
 |
This is an actual ice flake, or bit of debris, passing through the field of view just before the anomaly made it's appearence. |
What the anomaly was remains a mystery. It was not astronomical. It's movement was not that of ordinary ice or debris. It's very difficult to imagine just how an RCS (Reaction Control System) jet could cause the behavior observed. So we are left with the fact that this object is unexplained. *** At the end of the day, it's up to YOU to draw your own conclusions.
© 2005 Jeff Challender
|
 |
 |
