“Building the Hubble Space Telescope.” Instituto Politecnico National April, 2009 C. R. O’Dell Vanderbilt University Instituto Politecnico National April, 2009 C. R. O’Dell Vanderbilt University

Hermann Oberth publishes “Die Rakete zu den Planetenraumen” Hermann Oberth publishes “Die Rakete zu den Planetenraumen” In this small book he elucidates most of the modern reasons for putting telescopes in space. In this small book he elucidates most of the modern reasons for putting telescopes in space. The ability to exploit space for astronomy was and continues to be closely dependent upon transportation. The ability to exploit space for astronomy was and continues to be closely dependent upon transportation. Hermann Oberth publishes “Die Rakete zu den Planetenraumen” Hermann Oberth publishes “Die Rakete zu den Planetenraumen” In this small book he elucidates most of the modern reasons for putting telescopes in space. In this small book he elucidates most of the modern reasons for putting telescopes in space. The ability to exploit space for astronomy was and continues to be closely dependent upon transportation. The ability to exploit space for astronomy was and continues to be closely dependent upon transportation.

Space Travel in 1930.

1945 “Army Surplus” V-2 Rockets come to the US.

The V2 The V2

The first “Think-Tank”, the RAND corporation commissions a study of potential uses of rockets. The first “Think-Tank”, the RAND corporation commissions a study of potential uses of rockets. Lyman Spitzer, then a 32 year old professor at Yale performs this study. Lyman Spitzer, then a 32 year old professor at Yale performs this study. In this study he proposes building space observatories, leading up to something very similar to today’s HST. In this study he proposes building space observatories, leading up to something very similar to today’s HST. The first “Think-Tank”, the RAND corporation commissions a study of potential uses of rockets. The first “Think-Tank”, the RAND corporation commissions a study of potential uses of rockets. Lyman Spitzer, then a 32 year old professor at Yale performs this study. Lyman Spitzer, then a 32 year old professor at Yale performs this study. In this study he proposes building space observatories, leading up to something very similar to today’s HST. In this study he proposes building space observatories, leading up to something very similar to today’s HST.

Lyman Spitzer

NASA begins to consider the HST. One of the first things NASA did was to establish if the project was feasible (a Phase-A Study). One of the first things NASA did was to establish if the project was feasible (a Phase-A Study). In parallel with studies by multiple contractors a group of scientists was convened at NASA HQ by Nancy G. Roman to provide feedback. In parallel with studies by multiple contractors a group of scientists was convened at NASA HQ by Nancy G. Roman to provide feedback. At the end of this study I was nominated by Lyman Spitzer to become the Project Scientist (September 1972). At the end of this study I was nominated by Lyman Spitzer to become the Project Scientist (September 1972). One of the first things NASA did was to establish if the project was feasible (a Phase-A Study). One of the first things NASA did was to establish if the project was feasible (a Phase-A Study). In parallel with studies by multiple contractors a group of scientists was convened at NASA HQ by Nancy G. Roman to provide feedback. In parallel with studies by multiple contractors a group of scientists was convened at NASA HQ by Nancy G. Roman to provide feedback. At the end of this study I was nominated by Lyman Spitzer to become the Project Scientist (September 1972). At the end of this study I was nominated by Lyman Spitzer to become the Project Scientist (September 1972).

Resolution versus Time

Originally the design was for a 3-m aperture.

1972-3mCrossSection1972-3mCrossSection

1972-3mConfiguration1972-3mConfiguration

We had $$ problems from the beginning. The original $300M price-tag was a dictated price. The original $300M price-tag was a dictated price. Different configurations were considered. Different configurations were considered. Different sizes (1.8-m, 2.4-m, 3.0-m) were considered. Different sizes (1.8-m, 2.4-m, 3.0-m) were considered. The 2.4-m configuration was chosen in June, The 2.4-m configuration was chosen in June, ESA became a 15% partner in late ESA became a 15% partner in late The original $300M price-tag was a dictated price. The original $300M price-tag was a dictated price. Different configurations were considered. Different configurations were considered. Different sizes (1.8-m, 2.4-m, 3.0-m) were considered. Different sizes (1.8-m, 2.4-m, 3.0-m) were considered. The 2.4-m configuration was chosen in June, The 2.4-m configuration was chosen in June, ESA became a 15% partner in late ESA became a 15% partner in late 1976.

A Skeleton Sketch.

HST Cutaway Cropped

This was the first spacecraft to be designed for maintenance.

NBS Axial SI Replacement

Primary Mirror.

Primary Mirror After Aluminizing

The telescope structure.

Focal Plane Assembly.

WF/PC Prelaunch

Transporting the Telescope to California.

OTA Development Problems The manufacture of a light-weight, highly precise mirror was considered to be an established technology by the project managers. The manufacture of a light-weight, highly precise mirror was considered to be an established technology by the project managers. As the primary mirror was being tested and finished, the FGS was shown to be inadequate. As the primary mirror was being tested and finished, the FGS was shown to be inadequate. This all occurred as a new Project Manager came on-board, whose mandate was to control the escalating costs. This all occurred as a new Project Manager came on-board, whose mandate was to control the escalating costs. The manufacture of a light-weight, highly precise mirror was considered to be an established technology by the project managers. The manufacture of a light-weight, highly precise mirror was considered to be an established technology by the project managers. As the primary mirror was being tested and finished, the FGS was shown to be inadequate. As the primary mirror was being tested and finished, the FGS was shown to be inadequate. This all occurred as a new Project Manager came on-board, whose mandate was to control the escalating costs. This all occurred as a new Project Manager came on-board, whose mandate was to control the escalating costs.

Spherical Aberration This was discovered as the first images were made. This was discovered as the first images were made. The cause was a misaligned optical device used to measure the shape of the primary mirror. The cause was a misaligned optical device used to measure the shape of the primary mirror. This device made the mirror appear to be flat when it was of the right shape. This device made the mirror appear to be flat when it was of the right shape. This was discovered as the first images were made. This was discovered as the first images were made. The cause was a misaligned optical device used to measure the shape of the primary mirror. The cause was a misaligned optical device used to measure the shape of the primary mirror. This device made the mirror appear to be flat when it was of the right shape. This device made the mirror appear to be flat when it was of the right shape.

The Reflective Null Corrector

The Direct Mistake

Contributing Factors The primary mirror was not considered the most demanding part of the HST. The primary mirror was not considered the most demanding part of the HST. The method of testing had become routine. The method of testing had become routine. Management was concentrating on a redesign of the FGS, which WAS new. Management was concentrating on a redesign of the FGS, which WAS new. The resident MSFC QA person had not been changed. The resident MSFC QA person had not been changed. The report on the anomaly with the alignment was not forwarded to MSFC. The report on the anomaly with the alignment was not forwarded to MSFC. The primary mirror was not considered the most demanding part of the HST. The primary mirror was not considered the most demanding part of the HST. The method of testing had become routine. The method of testing had become routine. Management was concentrating on a redesign of the FGS, which WAS new. Management was concentrating on a redesign of the FGS, which WAS new. The resident MSFC QA person had not been changed. The resident MSFC QA person had not been changed. The report on the anomaly with the alignment was not forwarded to MSFC. The report on the anomaly with the alignment was not forwarded to MSFC.

The Assembled HST is Moved.

Schedule History

JAW Cartoon

LaunchLaunch

HST in Orbit

Servicing Missions SM1-12/93 COSTAR, WFPC2,Solar Arrays SM1-12/93 COSTAR, WFPC2,Solar Arrays SM2-02/97 STIS,NICMOS,FGS SM2-02/97 STIS,NICMOS,FGS SM3A-12/99 FGS,Gyros,Computer SM3A-12/99 FGS,Gyros,Computer SM3B-03/02 ACS,Solar Arrays,CryoCooler SM3B-03/02 ACS,Solar Arrays,CryoCooler SM1-12/93 COSTAR, WFPC2,Solar Arrays SM1-12/93 COSTAR, WFPC2,Solar Arrays SM2-02/97 STIS,NICMOS,FGS SM2-02/97 STIS,NICMOS,FGS SM3A-12/99 FGS,Gyros,Computer SM3A-12/99 FGS,Gyros,Computer SM3B-03/02 ACS,Solar Arrays,CryoCooler SM3B-03/02 ACS,Solar Arrays,CryoCooler

SM1 Axial SI Replacement SM4-10/08 WFC3,COS,(STIS+ACS Repairs),Batteries,Gyros SM4-10/08 WFC3,COS,(STIS+ACS Repairs),Batteries,Gyros

NBS Axial SI Replacement

SM4-Crew

The construction crane operator.

Scientific Productivity

Orion Nebula Orion Nebula 1996 Orion Nebula 1996

The Hubble Ultra Deep Field.

Reading Material “The Space Telescope” by Robert W. Smith. Cambridge University Press, 1989(pre- launch) & 1993(post-launch). “The Space Telescope” by Robert W. Smith. Cambridge University Press, 1989(pre- launch) & 1993(post-launch). “The Orion Nebula” by C. Robert O’Dell, Harvard University Press, 2003 (Chapter 7). “The Orion Nebula” by C. Robert O’Dell, Harvard University Press, 2003 (Chapter 7). “The Universe in Mirror: The Saga of the HST and the Visionaries Who Built It.” by Robert Zimmerman, Princeton University Press, “The Universe in Mirror: The Saga of the HST and the Visionaries Who Built It.” by Robert Zimmerman, Princeton University Press, “The Space Telescope” by Robert W. Smith. Cambridge University Press, 1989(pre- launch) & 1993(post-launch). “The Space Telescope” by Robert W. Smith. Cambridge University Press, 1989(pre- launch) & 1993(post-launch). “The Orion Nebula” by C. Robert O’Dell, Harvard University Press, 2003 (Chapter 7). “The Orion Nebula” by C. Robert O’Dell, Harvard University Press, 2003 (Chapter 7). “The Universe in Mirror: The Saga of the HST and the Visionaries Who Built It.” by Robert Zimmerman, Princeton University Press, “The Universe in Mirror: The Saga of the HST and the Visionaries Who Built It.” by Robert Zimmerman, Princeton University Press, 2008.

Don’t you just love a story with a happy ending?

Yilen-Stop Here.

Shuttle Schedule