Retired NASA astronaut John Grunsfeld hosts this six-part mini-series about the tools used on the Hubble Space Telescope servicing missions. Hubble was uniquely designed to be serviced in space so that components could be repaired and upgraded. Astronauts using custom-designed tools performed challenging spacewalks on five servicing missions from 1993 to 2009 to keep Hubble operating so that it could change our fundamental understanding of the universe. Join John and EVA manager Russ Werneth in this episode of Hubble Tool Time to learn about the power ratchet tool used on Hubble’s first servicing mission in 1993. In addition to enabling Hubble's scientific discoveries, the tools developed by teams at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center and tested in collaboration with the Johnson Space Center furthered NASA's human exploration capabilities. These tools and the knowledge gleaned from the Hubble servicing missions are used today by astronauts on the International Space Station, and will be critical to NASA's future crewed missions to the Moon and Mars.
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NASA ID
GSFC_20190423_HST_m13176_TTSM1
Date Created
April 23, 2019
Center
GSFC
Media Type
video
Photographer
John Caldwell, Katrina Jackson
Location
Goddard Space Flight Center
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Captions
Subtitles
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In KSC's Vertical Processing Facility, Louise Kleba of the Vehicle Integration Test Team (VITT) and engineer Devin Tailor of Goddard Space Flight Center examine the Pistol Grip Tool (PGT), which was designed for use by astronauts during spacewalks. The PGT is a self-contained, micro-processor controlled, battery-powered tool. It also can be used as a nonpowered ratchet wrench. The experiences of the astronauts on the first Hubble Space Telescope (HST) servicing mission led to recommendations for this smaller, more efficient tool for precision work during spacewalks. The PGT will be used on the second HST servicing mission, STS-82. Liftoff aboard Discovery is scheduled Feb. 11.
Jan 22, 1997
STS-61 crew participates in HST optical correction training at MSFC
Jun 15, 1993
Astronaut Jeffrey Hoffman displays tools for use on HST
Dec 5, 1993
Special ratchet tool to be used by the STS-61 crew for HST repair
Nov 1, 1993