STS-103 The Spacewalk Object

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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 Amongst the tasks completed were replacement of Hubble's outdated central computer, installation of new guidance gyroscopes, and a brand new solid state data recorder.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

The first of three Hubble servicing spacewalks took place on 22 December, 1999. Astronauts John Grunsfeld, and Steven Smith took care of business on this, as well as the third and last spacewalk. (Astronauts Michael Foale and Claude Nicollier handled the second one) During this EVA (Extra-Vehicular Activity or spacewalk), an object passed by the Astronauts in the distance. It was orb shaped, and bore no resemblance to common space debris, or ice. In addition, this object was moving in the wrong direction for it to have originated from the Shuttle. When men are working outside the Shuttle, it is routine that the RCS (Reaction Control System) jets are used at a minimum, or not a all. This is to prevent the spacewalkers from experiencing jerks and jolts while in vulnerable positions.

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. It would seem highly unlikely, however, that the Moon could be mistaken for anything else.

Stars and Planets can sometimes be seen in Shuttle based cameras, but only when the specialised black & white low-light cameras are in use. The color cameras, such as the one which captured this incident, are incapable of registering the stars and planets. They just aren't that sensitive. They CAN see the Moon, but it's the ONLY celetial body they do see. Even the Moon is usually "washed out" when the payload bay, and camera mounted, floodlamps are turned on. At the time that this object passed by, at least one, probably two or three, lights were on and trained on the Astronauts and their work. This, obviously, was to aid them in the delicate tasks to hand.

Another Hubble service mission, STS-109 in March 2002, saw another anomaly event amazingly similar to this one. See it, and compare for yourself, HERE.

The object in question moved from top to bottom screen, seeming to pass between the Astronauts at their work. It finally disappeared behind the Flight Support System. This is the frame which holds the HST in place during servicing. The pictures below illustrate the motion and path of the anomaly.
SETTING THE SCENE
As the spacewalking Astronauts work to repair and upgrade the Hubble Space Telescope, an anomalous object passes by in the distance. Astronauts Grunsfeld and Smith were on this team.
ENHANCEMENTS
This is a 200% zoom on the object and it's trajectory. What it might be remains a mystery. I do not believe it to be the Moon, even though it was in the sky that night.
   
This animation is presented with colors reversed for a different aspect.
   
Lastly, the embossed GIF. Now the object stands out in 3D against a neutral background.
WHAT WAS IN THE SKY?

© 2004 Heavens-Above

The full Moon was in a prominent posistion in the sky at the time of this event. With the known lack of sensitivity to far away pinpoint astronomical objects that the color shuttle cameras have, it seems quite unlikely that our anomaly is in fact, the Moon. Add in the brightly lit scene, due to shuttle based floodlights, and the probability drops to near zero. The camera iris would have been closed down too far for the distant light of the Moon to register. As for stars and planets, these cameras don't pick them up at all.

In addition, this object crossed our field of view in LESS than 30 seconds. This is far to rapid a pace for the Moon, even at the 17,000 mph (28,000 km/h) velocity of Shuttle Discovery. So for these reasons, I classify this object as an unknown.

***

At all times during this incident, the camera was under the control of the INCO in Houston Mission Control.

(INCO - INstrument & Communication Officer - The man in Houston Mission Control Center who is responsible for operating the Shuttle payload bay, and robotic arm, cameras. He also remotely operates the helmet cameras in space suits. In the case of ISS, this officer is referred to as the CATO - Communications And Tracking Officer. In both cases, these persons CONTROL everything which is PERMITTED to go out on broadcast to the public. It is a commonly believed falacy that the cameras are operated by Astronauts & Cosmonauts on the Shuttles, and Space Station. Very little camera work is done by the crews. They're way too busy for that.)

 

At the end of the day, it's up to YOU to draw your own conclusions.

 

© 2005 Jeff Challender