Success! Columbia Releases Upgraded Hubble

By Fraser Cain - March 11, 2002 at 10:56 AM UTC | Missions

After five days of repairs, the newly upgraded Hubble Space Telescope was released from the space shuttle

Columbia

. Over the past week, spacewalking astronauts outfitted Hubble with new solar panels, power controller, pointing mechanism, and an advanced camera - 10 times more powerful than its previous system. During this mission, the astronauts set a record for time spent spacewalking, spending a total of 35 hours, 55 minutes outside the shuttle.

Columbia

is due to return to Earth on Tuesday morning.

Fraser Cain

Fraser Cain

Fraser Cain is the publisher of Universe Today, founding the website in March 1999. He's also the co-host of Astronomy Cast.