STS-61
Five spacewalks repair, upgrade, and optically correct Hubble
STS-61 was the first Hubble Space Telescope servicing mission and one of the Shuttle era's most complex flights. During five consecutive totaling more than 35 hours, Endeavour's crew installed corrective optics and a new camera, replaced solar arrays, gyroscopes, electronics, and other hardware, then redeployed an observatory capable of delivering its intended sharp images.
Mission dossier
Flight profile, locations, hardware, and outcome in the same reference format used throughout the archive.
Flight profile
- Launch
- December 2, 1993
- Landing
- December 13, 1993
- Mission duration
- 10 days, 19 hours, 58 minutes, 33 seconds
- Orbits
- 163
- Inclination
- 28.45 degrees
Places and recovery
Mission record
- EVAs
- 5
- Mission type
- Hubble Space Telescope servicing
- Vehicle
- STS-61 flight stack
- Orbiter
- Space Shuttle Endeavour (OV-105)
- Crew and station travelers
- 7
Assignment Manifest
The flight crew and the backup team assigned to train for this mission.
Prime crew
7 assignments
Claude Nicollierprime crewMission SpecialistLaunched December 2, 1993Returned December 13, 199310 days, 19 hours, 58 minutes, 33 secondsMission Specialist aboard STS-61 flight stack.Open astronaut archive
Jeffrey Alan Hoffmanprime crewMission SpecialistLaunched December 2, 1993Returned December 13, 199310 days, 19 hours, 58 minutes, 33 secondsMission Specialist aboard STS-61 flight stack.Open astronaut archive
Kathryne D. Thorntonprime crewN/ALaunched December 2, 1993Returned December 13, 199310 days, 19 hours, 58 minutes, 33 secondsN/A aboard STS-61 flight stack.Open astronaut archive
Kenneth D. Bowersoxprime crewPilotLaunched December 2, 1993Returned December 13, 199310 days, 19 hours, 58 minutes, 33 secondsPilot aboard STS-61 flight stack.Open astronaut archive
Richard Oswalt Coveyprime crewCommanderLaunched December 2, 1993Returned December 13, 199310 days, 19 hours, 58 minutes, 33 secondsCommander aboard STS-61 flight stack.Open astronaut archive
Story Musgraveprime crewMission SpecialistLaunched December 2, 1993Returned December 13, 199310 days, 19 hours, 58 minutes, 33 secondsMission Specialist aboard STS-61 flight stack.Open astronaut archive
Thomas D. Akersprime crewMission SpecialistLaunched December 2, 1993Returned December 13, 199310 days, 19 hours, 58 minutes, 33 secondsMission Specialist aboard STS-61 flight stack.Open astronaut archiveMission Purpose
2 sources- with and capture the Hubble Space Telescope.
- Install corrective optics and replacement hardware to restore Hubble's observing capability.
- Conduct five to replace gyroscopes, solar arrays, electronics, and science/optics hardware.
- Release Hubble back into orbit for resumed science operations.
Planned Flight Plan
2 sources- Launch
Servicing mission begins
Endeavour launched from Kennedy Space Center carrying Hubble servicing hardware and a seven-person repair crew.
- Rendezvous
Hubble capture
The crew maneuvered Endeavour near Hubble, captured the telescope with the robot arm, and secured it in the payload bay.
- Servicing phase
Five repair campaign
EVA teams installed corrective optics, replaced solar arrays and gyroscope hardware, and upgraded observatory systems.
- Release
Hubble returned to orbit
The crew released Hubble after servicing and prepared Endeavour for landing.
Mission Timeline
2 sources- December 2, 1993
Launch
Endeavour began the first Hubble servicing mission.
- December 4, 1993
Hubble captured
Claude Nicollier grappled and berthed the observatory with Canadarm.
- December 5–9, 1993
Five servicing
Two alternating teams repaired, upgraded, and optically corrected the telescope.
- December 10, 1993
Hubble redeployed
The corrected observatory returned to independent flight before Endeavour landed December 13.