X

Photos: Hubble Telescope takes center stage

Now that the Space Shuttle Atlantis has lifted off, the astronauts on board can get to work on their mission of doing the final repairs on the Hubble Space Telescope.

Daniel Terdiman
Daniel Terdiman is a senior writer at CNET News covering Twitter, Net culture, and everything in between.
Daniel Terdiman
Hubbellincargobay.jpg
1 of 11 NASA

Hubble in Space Shuttle cargo bay

On May 11, the Space Shuttle Atlantis (STS-125) launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The astronauts' mission is to do a final set of repairs on the Hubble Space Telescope.

Now, the Shuttle has reached Hubble, and the astronauts have set to work.

Here, the Hubble telescope, after being captured and locked down, rests in Atlantis' cargo bay.

Astronautreflected.jpg
2 of 11 NASA

Astronaut reflected

Here, astronaut Andrew Feustel takes a picture of himself reflected in the helmet visor of astronaut John Grunsfeld, who is in the middle of a spacewalk to work on the Hubble telescope.

Feustel is taking the picture while on the end of the remote manipulator system, built in Canada.
Hubbellfollowinggrapple.jpg
3 of 11 NASA

Hubble following grappling

An astronaut on board the Space Shuttle Atlantis took this image of the Hubble telescope after it was grabbed by the Canadian-built remote manipulator system.

The shuttle was launched on May 11, with the mission of performing a last set of repairs and upgrades to the telescope.
hubble1_500x389.jpg
4 of 11 NASA, ESA and the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI)

A Hubble view of Messier 82

In this archival image, released on the 16th anniversary of, and taken by, the Hubble Space Telescope, we see the sharpest wide-angle view ever taken of the starburst galaxy Messier 82.
Earth.jpg
5 of 11 NASA

View of Earth

Among the first group of still images downlinked by the STS-125 crew members aboard the space shuttle Atlantis was this high oblique scene looking toward the Sinai Peninsula and the Mediterranean Sea. The Red Sea is just out of frame at bottom right. Saudi Arabia is in the right foreground and Egypt's Nile River and its delta can be seen (lower left) toward the horizon. Jordan and a small portion of Israel can be seen near the top of the frame. The Gulf of Suez and the Gulf of Aqaba extend from the Red Sea toward the Mediterranean.
Twoastronautsworking.jpg
6 of 11 NASA

Two astronauts working

It may look like several astronauts working on the Hubble Space Telescope, but it's actually only two, astronauts John Grunsfeld (left) and Andrew Feustel (right), both reflected on the mirror-like surface of the telescope. All told, the crew of the Atlantis will perform five spacewalks to work on the telescope.
Astronautwithtool.jpg
7 of 11 NASA

Power tools in space

Atlantis astronaut John Grunsfeld wields a specialized power tool on the mid-deck of the space shuttle. Grunsfeld will use the tool to do repairs on the Hubble Space Telescope.
shoemaker_550x442.jpg
8 of 11 Hubble Space Telescope Comet Team and NASA

Comet crash sites on Jupiter

Pictured here are eight sites on Jupiter where debris from the July 24, 1994, break-up and crash of the comet Shoemaker-Levy hit the planet.

The image was taken by the Hubble Space Telescope.

eclipses_550x525.jpg
9 of 11 Hubble Space Telescope Comet Team and NASA

Multiple solar eclipses

Here, we see an image taken by the Hubble Space Telescope of three separate solar eclipses taking place simultaneously on Jupiter.

The eclipses are a result of three of Jupiter's moons, Ganymede, Io, and Callisto (left to right). Io and Ganymede are also visible in this image, the former a white spot near Jupiter's center and the latter a blue spot near the upper right.
ShuttlethroughdoorsofVAB.jpg
10 of 11 NASA/Kim Shiflett

Shuttle Atlantis leaves the VAB

The launch of STS-125 on the Space Shuttle Atlantis was delayed for months. Here, in an image taken on October 20, 2008, Atlantis is rolled out of the Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, for the six-hour trip to the launch pad.
STS125launching.jpg
11 of 11 Scott Andrews

Atlantis blasts off, Endeavor on stand-by

As the Space Shuttle Atlantis blasts off on May 11, the Shuttle Endeavor is seen sitting at the ready on a nearby launch pad. Endeavor was prepared for launch in case a rescue mission is necessary as the crew of Atlantis work on the Hubble Space Telescope.

More Galleries

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera
A houseplant

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera

20 Photos
Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra
magic-v2-2024-foldable-1383

Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra

10 Photos
The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum
Samsung Galaxy S24

The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum

23 Photos
Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design
The Galaxy S24 Ultra in multiple colors

Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design

23 Photos
I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites
img-0368.jpg

I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites

34 Photos
17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About
Invitation for the Apple September iPhone 15 event

17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About

18 Photos
AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?
img-1599-2.jpg

AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?

17 Photos