Crewed spacecraftExpended
STS-61 flight stack
Mission-specific Space Shuttle flight stack
Vehicle and mission dossier
STS-61
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.
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
Vehicle record
- Orbiter
- Space Shuttle Endeavour
- Mission or test
- STS-61
- Configuration
- , external tank, two , and three main engines
- Status
- Mission hardware disposition recorded by component
- EVAs
- 5
- Mission type
- Hubble Space Telescope servicing
- Crew and station travelers
- 7
Flight objectives
- 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.
Flight timeline
- December 2, 1993LaunchEndeavour began the first Hubble servicing mission.
- December 4, 1993Hubble capturedClaude Nicollier grappled and berthed the observatory with Canadarm.
- December 5–9, 1993Five servicing Two alternating teams repaired, upgraded, and optically corrected the telescope.
- December 10, 1993Hubble redeployedThe corrected observatory returned to independent flight before Endeavour landed December 13.
