Commissioning of Hubble Space Telescope: the strategy for recovery

摘要

When the space shuttle Endeavor rockets into orbit on December 2, 1993, NASA will begin the last phase of a three part program to recover from the disappointing beginnings of Hubble Space Telescope operations. The problem with the telescope was detected shortly after launch in April of 1990 and in June of that year NASA concluded that the primary mirror of the telescope had been manufactured with the wrong figure. NASA immediately began a detailed investigation to determine exactly what went wrong. Next, NASA and the HST community began a multi-effort program to maximize and improve the science produced by the telescope in its aberrated condition. Finally, plans were developed to repair the telescope's problems in orbit and to restore the observatory's full scientific potential. Much has been written about the failure to detect this flaw before launch. The impression of many outside the program is that Hubble is a complete failure. Far less has been written of the impressive efforts and successes as the recovery from this disappointing start evolved.