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STS-125: The mission
A detailed step-by-step preview of space shuttle Atlantis' STS-125 mission to extend the life and vision of the Hubble Space Telescope.
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STS-125: The EVAs
The lead spacewalk officer provides indepth explanations of the five EVAs to service Hubble during Atlantis' flight.
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STS-125: The crew
The seven shuttle Atlantis astronauts hold a press conference one month before their planned launch to Hubble.
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STS-125: NASA leaders
The leaders of NASA's Space Operations and Science directorates give their insights into the upcoming shuttle mission to the Hubble Space Telescope.
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STS-125: Shuttle boss
The head of NASA's space shuttle program discusses the risks and plans for Atlantis' trek to Hubble.
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The Hubble program
An overview of the Hubble Space Telescope program and the planning that has gone into the final servicing mission.
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Hubble's future science
The new instruments to be installed into Hubble and the future science objectives for the observatory are previewed.
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Meet the Hubble crew
Meet the crew launching on Atlantis' STS-125 mission to service the Hubble Space Telescope and learn how each became an astronaut in this special biography movie.
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End of one era, start of another for Hubble
BY WILLIAM HARWOOD STORY WRITTEN FOR CBS NEWS "SPACE PLACE" & USED WITH PERMISSION Posted: May 16, 2009
Marking the end of an era, spacewalkers Andrew Feustel and John Grunsfeld removed the no-longer-needed COSTAR corrective optics package from the Hubble Space Telescope today and replaced it with the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph, an $88 million state-of-the-art instrument designed to study the large-scale structure of the universe.
Feustel removes COSTAR from Hubble. Credit: NASA TV
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The $50 million COSTAR, or Corrective Optics Space Telescope Axial Replacement, was installed in 1993 during the first Hubble servicing mission. It was equipped with small mirrors that exactly counteracted the spherical aberration marring Hubble's famously flawed primary mirror. COSTAR routed corrected light to all of Hubble's instruments except the Wide Field Planetary Camera 2, which had its own built-in corrective optics.
"This is really pretty historic, pulling out the COSTAR," astronomer-astronaut Grunsfeld noted as the spacewalkers prepared to remove the boxy 800-pound instrument.
With COSTAR temporarily stowed on a fixture mounted on the left side of Atlantis' payload bay, Feustel and Grunsfeld opened the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph storage box, disconnected a ground strap and released bolts holding it in place. Then Megan McArthur, operating the robot arm from inside Atlantis, moved Feustel and the new instrument back to the space telescope.
"Beautiful instrument," Feustel observed.
Holding COS vertical, Feustel and McArthur, with guidance from Grunsfeld, carefully moved COS into position to engage the same guide rails that held COSTAR in place. The astronauts had no problem sliding COS into place, locking it down and connecting electrical cables to complete the installation just past noon.
"Great job, excellent. COS is in there," Michael Massimino said from Atlantis' flight deck after Grunsfeld drove in a latch bolt. "Nice work, boys."
"The Cosmic Origins Spectrograph is a physics machine," Grunsfeld said in a NASA interview. "Whereas the Wide Field Camera is taking images which contain a lot of physics and a lot of information, the spectrograph takes the light that's coming from an object and breaks it up into tiny little bins by frequency and allows us to see spectral lines that are caused by oscillations of, of electrons and atoms, transitions between states, and from that you can tell the temperature, the density, all kinds of important details of what's going on, say, in a stellar atmosphere or in the gas between stars.
"And in particular, the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph is going to investigate the space between stars in our own galaxy, interstellar medium, and even more important, the space between galaxies in the universe. When the universe was made, just like when you build a house, there was a lot of stuff left over, and the shape of that stuff is a critical factor in determining what the nature of the universe is, and in particular subjects like dark matter.
"Because normal matter, the stuff we're made out of, hydrogen gas, helium gas, all the atomic elements, will clump around this dark matter that has the same effect of gravity as regular matter but doesn't interact the way normal matter does with light, so we can't see it. And it turns out the structure of the universe is dominated by this dark matter. The Cosmic Origins Spectrograph will be able to look through the universe and, using this physics tool, help us understand what the universe is made of and, and how it was formed."
Additional coverage for subscribers:
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NARRATED PREVIEW OF SPACEWALK NO. 3 PLAY
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FLIGHT DIRECTOR'S PREVIEW OF MISSION'S DAY 6 PLAY
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FLIGHT DAY 5 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY
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FRIDAY NIGHT UPDATE FROM HST CONTROL CENTER PLAY
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FRIDAY'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY
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SPARE GYRO UNIT INSTALLED INTO THIRD POSITION PLAY
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ANOTHER GYROSCOPE UNIT PUT INTO SECOND SLOT PLAY
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TROUBLE INSTALLING SECOND GYROSCOPE PACKAGE PLAY
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REMOVAL OF SECOND GYROSCOPE PACKAGE FROM HUBBLE PLAY
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INSTALLATION OF FIRST GYROSCOPE INTO HUBBLE PLAY
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REMOVAL OF FIRST GYROSCOPE PACKAGE FROM HUBBLE PLAY
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NARRATED PREVIEW OF SPACEWALK NO. 2 PLAY
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FLIGHT DIRECTOR'S PREVIEW OF MISSION'S DAY 5 PLAY
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FLIGHT DAY 4 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY
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THURSDAY NIGHT UPDATE FROM HST CONTROL CENTER PLAY
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THURSDAY'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY
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SOFT CAPTURE MECHANISM PUT ON HUBBLE PLAY
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SCIENCE INSTRUMENT COMMAND & DATA HANDLING UNIT PLAY
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PARTIALLY FAILED SIC&DH UNIT REMOVED FROM HST PLAY
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WFPC2 CAMERA STOWED IN ATLANTIS FOR RETURN PLAY
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OVERVIEW OF WIDE FIELD CAMERA 3 INSTRUMENT PLAY
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SPACEWALKERS INSTALL THE WIDE FIELD CAMERA 3 PLAY
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NEW WIDE FIELD CAMERA 3 PREPPED FOR INSTALLATION PLAY
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16-YEAR-OLD WFPC2 CAMERA REMOVED FROM HUBBLE PLAY
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LATCHING BOLT ON WPFC2 FINALLY RELEASED PLAY
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FIGHTING WITH TROUBLESOME BOLT ON WPFC2 PLAY
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FEUSTEL INSTALLS HANDLE ONTO WPFC2 FOR REMOVAL PLAY
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HANDLING FIXTURE DEPLOYED TO HOLD OLD CAMERA PLAY
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GRUNSFELD INSTALLS SUPPORT POSTS UNDER HST PLAY
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FEUSTEL OPENS LATCHES ON INSTRUMENT CARRIER PLAY
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ASTRONAUTS EXIT AIRLOCK TO START EVA NO. 1 PLAY
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NARRATED PREVIEW OF SPACEWALK NO. 1 PLAY
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FLIGHT DAY 3 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY
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WEDNESDAY NIGHT UPDATE FROM HST CONTROL CENTER PLAY
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WEDNESDAY'S MISSION MANAGEMENT TEAM UPDATE PLAY
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WEDNESDAY'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY
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TIME-LAPSE OF MOVING HUBBLE INTO PAYLOAD BAY PLAY
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SHUTTLE ATLANTIS' ROBOT ARM CAPTURES HUBBLE PLAY
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FIRST UP CLOSE VIEWS OF HUBBLE IN 7 YEARS PLAY
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SHUTTLE ENGINE FIRING TO CIRCULARIZE ORBIT PLAY
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INSIGHTFUL OVERVIEW OF ATLANTIS' MISSION PLAY
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NARRATED PREVIEW ANIMATION OF HUBBLE RENDEZVOUS PLAY
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FLIGHT DAY 2 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY
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TUESDAY NIGHT UPDATE FROM HST CONTROL CENTER PLAY
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TUESDAY'S MISSION MANAGEMENT TEAM UPDATE PLAY
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SLOW-MOTION OF DEBRIS THAT APPARENTLY HIT TILES PLAY
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TILE DAMAGE FOUND DURING INSPECTIONS PLAY
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CAPCOM CALLS CREW ABOUT MINOR DAMAGE PLAY
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TUESDAY'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY
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PREVIEW ANIMATION OF HEAT SHIELD INSPECTIONS PLAY
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FLIGHT DAY 1 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY
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THE FULL STS-125 LAUNCH EXPERIENCE PLAY
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LAUNCH REPLAY: EXTERNAL TANK CAMERA PLAY
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FOOTAGE OF FUEL TANK AFTER JETTISON PLAY
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LAUNCH REPLAY: FRONT CAMERA PLAY
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LAUNCH REPLAY: BEACH TRACKER PLAY
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LAUNCH REPLAY: PAD PERIMETER PLAY | HI-DEF
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LAUNCH REPLAY: UCS-23 TRACKER PLAY
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LAUNCH REPLAY: CAMERA CS-1 PLAY
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LAUNCH REPLAY: CAMERA CS-2 PLAY
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LAUNCH REPLAY: CAMERA CS-6 PLAY
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LAUNCH REPLAY: VAB ROOF PLAY
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LAUNCH REPLAY: PRESS SITE PLAY
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LAUNCH REPLAY: WEST TOWER PLAY
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LAUNCH REPLAY: CAMERA 009 PLAY
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LAUNCH REPLAY: CAMERA 041 PLAY
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LAUNCH REPLAY: CAMERA 049 PLAY
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LAUNCH REPLAY: CAMERA 050 PLAY
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LAUNCH REPLAY: CAMERA 051 PLAY
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LAUNCH REPLAY: CAMERA 060 PLAY
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LAUNCH REPLAY: CAMERA 061 PLAY
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LAUNCH REPLAY: CAMERA 063 PLAY
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LAUNCH REPLAY: CAMERA 070 PLAY
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LAUNCH REPLAY: CAMERA 071 PLAY
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SPACE SHUTTLE ATLANTIS BLASTS OFF! PLAY | HI-DEF
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STS-125 POST-LAUNCH NEWS CONFERENCE PLAY
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INSIDE MISSION CONTROL DURING LAUNCH PLAY
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NARRATED ANIMATION OF DAY 1 INSPECTIONS PLAY
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FINAL PRE-LAUNCH READINESS POLLS CONDUCTED PLAY
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SHUTTLE'S CREW MODULE HATCH CLOSED FOR FLIGHT PLAY
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MISSION SPECIALIST MEGAN MCARTHUR BOARDS PLAY
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PILOT GREG JOHNSON BOARDS ATLANTIS PLAY
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MISSION SPECIALIST JOHN GRUNSFELD BOARDS PLAY
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SHUTTLE COMMANDER SCOTT ALTMAN BOARDS PLAY
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CREW DEPARTS QUARTERS FOR LAUNCH PAD PART 1 | PART 2
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ASTRONAUTS DON SPACESUITS FOR LAUNCH PLAY
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TIME-LAPSE OF LAUNCH PAD GANTRY ROLLBACK PLAY
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HUBBLE'S FUTURE AFTER ATLANTIS SERVICING PLAY
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TOP DISCOVERIES MADE BY HUBBLE TELESCOPE PLAY
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THE ROLLERCOASTER LIFE OF HUBBLE PLAY
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WHAT IS HUBBLE'S PLACE IN HISTORY? PLAY
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ENTERTAINING LOOK AT ATLANTIS' CREW PLAY
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HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE HISTORY MOVIE PLAY
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A TRIBUTE TO THE CAMERA THAT SAVED HUBBLE PLAY
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HUBBLE TELESCOPE PROGRAM BRIEFING FROM SUNDAY PLAY
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SUNDAY'S COUNTDOWN STATUS AND WEATHER UPDATE PLAY
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THE STS-125 PRE-LAUNCH NEWS CONFERENCE PLAY
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SATURDAY'S COUNTDOWN STATUS AND WEATHER UPDATE PLAY
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ASTRONAUTS ARRIVE AT THE CAPE FOR LAUNCH PLAY
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FRIDAY'S COUNTDOWN STATUS AND WEATHER UPDATE PLAY
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NEWS BRIEFING FOLLOWING FLIGHT READINESS REVIEW PLAY
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REFRESHER BRIEFING: THE STS-125 MISSION PLAY
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REFRESHER BRIEFING: HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE PLAY
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REFRESHER BRIEFING: THE SEVEN ASTRONAUTS PLAY
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BIOGRAPHY MOVIE OF ATLANTIS' CREW PLAY
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INTERVIEW WITH COMMANDER SCOTT ALTMAN PLAY | '09 UPDATE
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INTERVIEW WITH PILOT GREG JOHNSON PLAY
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INTERVIEW WITH MS1 MIKE GOOD PLAY
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INTERVIEW WITH MS2 MEGAN MCARTHUR PLAY
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INTERVIEW WITH MS3 JOHN GRUNSFELD PLAY | '09 UPDATE
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INTERVIEW WITH MS4 MIKE MASSIMINO PLAY | '09 UPDATE
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INTERVIEW WITH MS5 DREW FEUSTEL PLAY | '09 UPDATE
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SHUTTLE ATLANTIS ARRIVES AT LAUNCH PAD 39A PLAY | HI-DEF
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THE SUN RISES ON ATLANTIS DURING ROLLOUT PLAY | HI-DEF
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ATLANTIS EMERGES FROM ASSEMBLY BUILDING PLAY | HI-DEF
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ORBITER VERTICAL FOR MATING TO FUEL TANK PLAY | HI-DEF
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ATLANTIS MOVES BACK TO ASSEMBLY BUILDING PLAY | HI-DEF
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ATLANTIS LEAVES LAUNCH PAD 39A IN OCT. PLAY
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TIMELAPSE OF THE ROLLBACK GETTING UNDERWAY PLAY
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ASTRONAUTS REHEARSE QUICK SHUTTLE EXIT PLAY
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CREW BOARDS ATLANTIS FOR MOCK COUNTDOWN PLAY
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ASTRONAUTS DON SUITS FOR PRACTICE COUNTDOWN PLAY
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CREW'S TRAINING ON ESCAPE BASKETS AND BUNKER PLAY
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ASTRONAUTS CHAT WITH PRESS AT LAUNCH PAD PLAY
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CREW TEST DRIVES EMERGENCY PAD ESCAPE VEHICLE PLAY
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COMMANDER AND PILOT PRACTICE LANDING APPROACHES PLAY
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CREW ARRIVES AT CAPE FOR PRACTICE COUNTDOWN PLAY
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COMMENTS FROM COMMANDER AFTER ARRIVING PLAY
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AERIAL VIEWS OF ATLANTIS AND ENDEAVOUR PLAY | HI-DEF
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PRE-FLIGHT BRIEFING: THE STS-125 MISSION PLAY
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PRE-FLIGHT BRIEFING: THE FIVE SPACEWALKS PLAY
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PRE-FLIGHT BRIEFING: THE SEVEN ASTRONAUTS PLAY
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PRE-FLIGHT BRIEFING: NASA LEADERSHIP PLAY
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PRE-FLIGHT BRIEFING: SHUTTLE PROGRAM BOSS PLAY
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PRE-FLIGHT BRIEFING: HUBBLE OVERVIEW PLAY
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PRE-FLIGHT BRIEFING: HUBBLE SCIENCE PLAY
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SHUTTLE ARRIVES ATOP PAD 39A PLAY
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ATLANTIS EMERGES FROM VEHICLE ASSEMBLY BUILDING PLAY
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TIME-LAPSE MOVIE OF ATLANTIS' ROLLOUT TO LAUNCH PAD PLAY
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ATLANTIS ROLLS FROM HANGAR TO VAB PLAY
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ATLANTIS LIFTED INTO PLACE FOR ATTACHMENT PLAY
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