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

““Building the Hubble Space Building the Hubble Space Telescope.”Telescope.”

““Building the Hubble Space Building the Hubble Space Telescope.”Telescope.”

Instituto Politecnico National

April, 2009

C. R. O’Dell

Vanderbilt University

Instituto Politecnico National

April, 2009

C. R. O’Dell

Vanderbilt University

1923192319231923 Hermann Oberth publishes “Die Rakete Hermann Oberth publishes “Die Rakete

zu den Planetenraumen”zu den Planetenraumen” In this small book he elucidates most of In this small book he elucidates most of

the modern reasons for putting the modern reasons for putting telescopes in space.telescopes in space.

The ability to exploit space for The ability to exploit space for astronomy was and continues to be astronomy was and continues to be closely dependent upon transportation.closely dependent upon transportation.

Hermann Oberth publishes “Die Rakete Hermann Oberth publishes “Die Rakete zu den Planetenraumen”zu den Planetenraumen”

In this small book he elucidates most of In this small book he elucidates most of the modern reasons for putting the modern reasons for putting telescopes in space.telescopes in space.

The ability to exploit space for The ability to exploit space for astronomy was and continues to be astronomy was and continues to be closely dependent upon transportation.closely dependent upon transportation.

Space Travel in 1930.Space Travel in 1930.Space Travel in 1930.Space Travel in 1930.

19451945“Army Surplus” V-2 Rockets “Army Surplus” V-2 Rockets

come to the US.come to the US.

19451945“Army Surplus” V-2 Rockets “Army Surplus” V-2 Rockets

come to the US.come to the US.

The V2The V2 The V2The V2

1946194619461946 The first “Think-Tank”, the RAND The first “Think-Tank”, the RAND

corporation commissions a study of corporation commissions a study of potential uses of rockets.potential uses of rockets.

Lyman Spitzer, then a 32 year old Lyman Spitzer, then a 32 year old professor at Yale performs this study.professor at Yale performs this study.

In this study he proposes building space In this study he proposes building space observatories, leading up to something observatories, leading up to something very similar to today’s HST.very similar to today’s HST.

The first “Think-Tank”, the RAND The first “Think-Tank”, the RAND corporation commissions a study of corporation commissions a study of potential uses of rockets.potential uses of rockets.

Lyman Spitzer, then a 32 year old Lyman Spitzer, then a 32 year old professor at Yale performs this study.professor at Yale performs this study.

In this study he proposes building space In this study he proposes building space observatories, leading up to something observatories, leading up to something very similar to today’s HST.very similar to today’s HST.

Lyman SpitzerLyman SpitzerLyman SpitzerLyman Spitzer

1971-72 NASA begins to 1971-72 NASA begins to consider the HST.consider the HST.

1971-72 NASA begins to 1971-72 NASA begins to consider the HST.consider the HST.

One of the first things NASA did was to establish One of the first things NASA did was to establish if the project was feasible (a Phase-A Study).if the project was feasible (a Phase-A Study).

In parallel with studies by multiple contractors a In parallel with studies by multiple contractors a group of scientists was convened at NASA HQ group of scientists was convened at NASA HQ by Nancy G. Roman to provide feedback.by Nancy G. Roman to provide feedback.

At the end of this study I was nominated by At the end of this study I was nominated by Lyman Spitzer to become the Project Scientist Lyman Spitzer to become the Project Scientist (September 1972).(September 1972).

One of the first things NASA did was to establish One of the first things NASA did was to establish if the project was feasible (a Phase-A Study).if the project was feasible (a Phase-A Study).

In parallel with studies by multiple contractors a In parallel with studies by multiple contractors a group of scientists was convened at NASA HQ group of scientists was convened at NASA HQ by Nancy G. Roman to provide feedback.by Nancy G. Roman to provide feedback.

At the end of this study I was nominated by At the end of this study I was nominated by Lyman Spitzer to become the Project Scientist Lyman Spitzer to become the Project Scientist (September 1972).(September 1972).

ResolutionResolutionversus Timeversus TimeResolutionResolution

versus Timeversus Time

Originally the design was for a 3-m aperture.

Originally the design was for a 3-m aperture.

1972-3mCrossSection1972-3mCrossSection1972-3mCrossSection1972-3mCrossSection

1972-3mConfiguration1972-3mConfiguration1972-3mConfiguration1972-3mConfiguration

We had $$ problems from the We had $$ problems from the beginning.beginning.

We had $$ problems from the We had $$ problems from the beginning.beginning.

The original $300M price-tag was a The original $300M price-tag was a dictated price. dictated price.

Different configurations were considered.Different configurations were considered. Different sizes (1.8-m, 2.4-m, 3.0-m) were Different sizes (1.8-m, 2.4-m, 3.0-m) were

considered.considered. The 2.4-m configuration was chosen in The 2.4-m configuration was chosen in

June, 1975.June, 1975. ESA became a 15% partner in late 1976.ESA became a 15% partner in late 1976.

The original $300M price-tag was a The original $300M price-tag was a dictated price. dictated price.

Different configurations were considered.Different configurations were considered. Different sizes (1.8-m, 2.4-m, 3.0-m) were Different sizes (1.8-m, 2.4-m, 3.0-m) were

considered.considered. The 2.4-m configuration was chosen in The 2.4-m configuration was chosen in

June, 1975.June, 1975. ESA became a 15% partner in late 1976.ESA became a 15% partner in late 1976.

A Skeleton Sketch.A Skeleton Sketch.A Skeleton Sketch.A Skeleton Sketch.

HST CutawayHST CutawayCroppedCropped

HST CutawayHST CutawayCroppedCropped

This was the first spacecraft to be designed for maintenance.This was the first spacecraft to be designed for maintenance.

NBSNBSAxial SI ReplacementAxial SI Replacement

NBSNBSAxial SI ReplacementAxial SI Replacement

Primary Mirror.Primary Mirror.

Primary MirrorPrimary MirrorAfter Aluminizing After Aluminizing

Primary MirrorPrimary MirrorAfter Aluminizing After Aluminizing

The telescope structure.The telescope structure.The telescope structure.The telescope structure.

Focal Plane Assembly.Focal Plane Assembly.Focal Plane Assembly.Focal Plane Assembly.

WF/PC PrelaunchWF/PC PrelaunchWF/PC PrelaunchWF/PC Prelaunch

Transporting the Telescope to California.Transporting the Telescope to California.

OTA Development ProblemsOTA Development ProblemsOTA Development ProblemsOTA Development Problems

The manufacture of a light-weight, highly precise The manufacture of a light-weight, highly precise mirror was considered to be an established mirror was considered to be an established technology by the project managers.technology by the project managers.

As the primary mirror was being tested and As the primary mirror was being tested and finished, the FGS was shown to be inadequate.finished, the FGS was shown to be inadequate.

This all occurred as a new Project Manager This all occurred as a new Project Manager came on-board, whose mandate was to control came on-board, whose mandate was to control the escalating costs.the escalating costs.

The manufacture of a light-weight, highly precise The manufacture of a light-weight, highly precise mirror was considered to be an established mirror was considered to be an established technology by the project managers.technology by the project managers.

As the primary mirror was being tested and As the primary mirror was being tested and finished, the FGS was shown to be inadequate.finished, the FGS was shown to be inadequate.

This all occurred as a new Project Manager This all occurred as a new Project Manager came on-board, whose mandate was to control came on-board, whose mandate was to control the escalating costs.the escalating costs.

Spherical AberrationSpherical AberrationSpherical AberrationSpherical Aberration

This was discovered as the first images This was discovered as the first images were made.were made.

The cause was a misaligned optical device The cause was a misaligned optical device used to measure the shape of the primary used to measure the shape of the primary mirror.mirror.

This device made the mirror appear to be This device made the mirror appear to be flat when it was of the right shape.flat when it was of the right shape.

This was discovered as the first images This was discovered as the first images were made.were made.

The cause was a misaligned optical device The cause was a misaligned optical device used to measure the shape of the primary used to measure the shape of the primary mirror.mirror.

This device made the mirror appear to be This device made the mirror appear to be flat when it was of the right shape.flat when it was of the right shape.

The Reflective The Reflective Null CorrectorNull CorrectorThe Reflective The Reflective Null CorrectorNull Corrector

The Direct The Direct MistakeMistake

The Direct The Direct MistakeMistake

Contributing FactorsContributing FactorsContributing FactorsContributing Factors

The primary mirror was not considered the most The primary mirror was not considered the most demanding part of the HST.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 Management was concentrating on a redesign of

the FGS, which WAS new.the FGS, which WAS new. The resident MSFC QA person had not been The resident MSFC QA person had not been

changed.changed. The report on the anomaly with the alignment The report on the anomaly with the alignment

was not forwarded to MSFC.was not forwarded to MSFC.

The primary mirror was not considered the most The primary mirror was not considered the most demanding part of the HST.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 Management was concentrating on a redesign of

the FGS, which WAS new.the FGS, which WAS new. The resident MSFC QA person had not been The resident MSFC QA person had not been

changed.changed. The report on the anomaly with the alignment The report on the anomaly with the alignment

was not forwarded to MSFC.was not forwarded to MSFC.

The Assembled HST is Moved.The Assembled HST is Moved.The Assembled HST is Moved.The Assembled HST is Moved.

Schedule HistorySchedule HistorySchedule HistorySchedule History

JAW CartoonJAW CartoonJAW CartoonJAW Cartoon

LaunchLaunchLaunchLaunch

HST in OrbitHST in OrbitHST in OrbitHST in Orbit

Servicing MissionsServicing MissionsServicing MissionsServicing Missions

SM1-12/93 COSTAR, WFPC2,Solar SM1-12/93 COSTAR, WFPC2,Solar ArraysArrays

SM2-02/97 STIS,NICMOS,FGSSM2-02/97 STIS,NICMOS,FGS SM3A-12/99 FGS,Gyros,ComputerSM3A-12/99 FGS,Gyros,Computer SM3B-03/02 ACS,Solar SM3B-03/02 ACS,Solar

Arrays,CryoCoolerArrays,CryoCooler

SM1-12/93 COSTAR, WFPC2,Solar SM1-12/93 COSTAR, WFPC2,Solar ArraysArrays

SM2-02/97 STIS,NICMOS,FGSSM2-02/97 STIS,NICMOS,FGS SM3A-12/99 FGS,Gyros,ComputerSM3A-12/99 FGS,Gyros,Computer SM3B-03/02 ACS,Solar SM3B-03/02 ACS,Solar

Arrays,CryoCoolerArrays,CryoCooler

SM1SM1Axial SI ReplacementAxial SI Replacement

SM1SM1Axial SI ReplacementAxial SI Replacement

SM4-10/08 WFC3,COS,(STIS+ACS SM4-10/08 WFC3,COS,(STIS+ACS Repairs),Batteries,GyrosRepairs),Batteries,Gyros

SM4-10/08 WFC3,COS,(STIS+ACS SM4-10/08 WFC3,COS,(STIS+ACS Repairs),Batteries,GyrosRepairs),Batteries,Gyros

NBSNBSAxial SI ReplacementAxial SI Replacement

NBSNBSAxial SI ReplacementAxial SI Replacement

SM4-CrewSM4-Crew

The construction crane operator.The construction crane operator.

Scientific ProductivityScientific ProductivityScientific ProductivityScientific Productivity

OrionNebulaOrion

Nebula

Orion

Nebula

1996

Orion

Nebula

1996

The Hubble Ultra Deep Field.

The Hubble Ultra Deep Field.

Reading MaterialReading MaterialReading MaterialReading Material ““The Space Telescope” by Robert W. Smith. The Space Telescope” by Robert W. Smith.

Cambridge University Press, 1989(pre-Cambridge University Press, 1989(pre-launch) & 1993(post-launch).launch) & 1993(post-launch).

““The Orion Nebula” by C. Robert O’Dell, The Orion Nebula” by C. Robert O’Dell, Harvard University Press, 2003 (Chapter 7).Harvard University Press, 2003 (Chapter 7).

““The Universe in Mirror: The Saga of the HST The Universe in Mirror: The Saga of the HST and the Visionaries Who Built It.” by Robert and the Visionaries Who Built It.” by Robert Zimmerman, Princeton University Press, Zimmerman, Princeton University Press, 2008.2008.

““The Space Telescope” by Robert W. Smith. The Space Telescope” by Robert W. Smith. Cambridge University Press, 1989(pre-Cambridge University Press, 1989(pre-launch) & 1993(post-launch).launch) & 1993(post-launch).

““The Orion Nebula” by C. Robert O’Dell, The Orion Nebula” by C. Robert O’Dell, Harvard University Press, 2003 (Chapter 7).Harvard University Press, 2003 (Chapter 7).

““The Universe in Mirror: The Saga of the HST The Universe in Mirror: The Saga of the HST and the Visionaries Who Built It.” by Robert and the Visionaries Who Built It.” by Robert Zimmerman, Princeton University Press, Zimmerman, Princeton University Press, 2008.2008.

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

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

Yilen-Stop Here.Yilen-Stop Here.

ShuttleShuttleScheduleScheduleShuttleShuttle

ScheduleSchedule