WEBVTT FILE

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Over the past decades, we've

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struggled to see beyond the atmosphere
lying between earth and space.

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Even from mountaintop observatories,
the atmosphere has blurred

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our view of the universe.

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And because the atmosphere absorbs
certain forms of energy,

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our knowledge of celestial phenomena
has been limited.

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One answer has been to go beyond
the atmosphere.

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In fact, between the late sixties
and the late seventies, NASA's launched

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a series of special purpose observatories,
revealing ultraviolet sources

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such as very hot stars
and very young stars.

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These satellites made tremendous
breakthroughs

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and encouraged astronomers
to move on to larger observatories

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seeking answers
about more distant galaxies,

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mysterious pulsars and quasars.

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And the universe itself.

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Astronomers envision the next step
a multipurpose observatory in space,

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one that could image farther
and more clearly than its predecessors,

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uncovering phenomena
in ultraviolet, visible

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and infrared regions
of the spectrum and observatory

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that could expand our perception
to the outer reaches of the universe.

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That next step was HST.

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NASA's Hubble Space Telescope.

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With its precision
optics and diverse array of scientific

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instruments, NASA is responsible

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for developing, operating and maintaining
this ground size space observatory.

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With its unparalleled goals,

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the Hubble Space Telescope poses
a much greater challenge to operate

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than ground
based observatories are the satellites

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that came before it.

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Led by NASA engineers, scientists
and researchers

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from universities, industries
and the European Space Agency have

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combined efforts to meet the challenge
of operating Hubble Space Telescope.

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The result is one of the most complex
operations and maintenance systems

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in the world one that ensures quality
observations and spacecraft performance

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into the next century.

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To take a closer look,
we started the Space

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Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore,
Maryland.

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Aura,
a consortium of American universities,

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operates the Institute for NASA.

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The Space Telescope Science Institute

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is the International Center
for Science Activities with HST.

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It plans the day to day observations
and sets up the long term science program.

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Astronomers
first come in contact with the institute

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when they submit
their proposed science program.

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As with any major observatory,
the demand for the telescope exceeds

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the time available.

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We expect to receive over 1000 proposals
a year

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and only 200 can be conducted.

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A committee of international astronomers
selects the proposals

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based on their scientific merit.

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Because the HST offers

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several hundred instrument configurations,
our scientists

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work with the selected researchers
to detail their observations.

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Next, numerous proposals are incorporated
into a week long observing schedule

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that ensures the efficient use
of every telescope minute.

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There are many, many factors involved
in scheduling observations

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with the space telescope.

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There are many instruments on board
the space telescope.

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Within the same instrument,
there are several observing modes.

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Even the simplest observation requires
using different filters.

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We may also have to revisit the same
target at different times of the year.

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We want to maximize the time
spent observing with the space telescope

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and minimize the time wasted
moving the telescope around.

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Therefore, we will group the observations
to happen in the same area of the sky.

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We also

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want to use the same instrument
for long periods of time, even weeks

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at a time,
to minimize switching instruments on

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and off unnecessarily.

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Before the telescope scheduled
can be completed.

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Another essential factor is entered
the guide stars

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to establish guide stars for operations.

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The Institute has converted
1500 photographic plates of the sky

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into a catalog of 15 million stars,
using the catalog,

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the institute's computer selects
guide stars for each target.

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HST stabilizes on a target
by finding and locking onto

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to guide stars
with its precision guidance sensors.

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The sensors detect
any minor drift from the guide stars

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and correct the spacecraft's position
through the onboard computers

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with the guide stars
and other system factors incorporated.

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The Institute produces a week
long schedule which specifies

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when, where and how HST
science instruments will be used

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from the institute.

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The science schedule is transmitted
to the Space Telescope Operations Control

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Center, located at Goddard Space
Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.

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This is the nerve center of HST
ground system.

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The science schedule automatically goes
into one of the control center

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computer systems,
which adds commands for operating

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and maintaining the observatory.

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These new commands cover such operations
as moving the telescope

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or pointing its communications antennas.

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The system also schedules links

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to NASA's communication satellites

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merging both the science and spacecraft
commands.

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The computer generates
a master schedule for the week.

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If this second by second schedule
were printed out,

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the stack would be 1 to 2 feet high.

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Commands are sent to HST
to onboard computers,

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which on an average day
carry out over 12,000 commands.

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The spacecraft's

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safety is also monitored
as the control center.

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A typical satellite has about a thousand
parameters that must be monitored.

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HST has about 6000.

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These parameters include specific
spacecraft temperatures, voltages,

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electrical currents
and the condition of its computers.

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Our engineers must instantly recognize
the codes for each

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function, interpret their measurements,
and take immediate action.

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If something is unusual

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because the engineers are overrun
with data.

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We became concerned about the potential
for human error.

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To minimize this possibility,
we are developing an artificial

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intelligence system
that automates much of the analysis.

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If the system finds something amiss,
it tells the operator.

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Eventually.

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It will also prescribe a solution
for the irregularity.

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Before the actual observations begin.

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Nasser must calibrate
adjust his various systems

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during a crucial seven month
period following launch.

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Marshall Space
Flight Center, located in Huntsville,

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Alabama, was responsible for building HST.

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Early in the calibration process.

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Marshall Personnel
managed the spacecraft's initial checkout

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from Goddard's control center.

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At the beginning of deployment.

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The shuttle bay doors open
and the orbiter supplies power to HST.

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Communication is then established
between the ground control center

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and the spacecraft
to verify proper configuration

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and to activate basic systems
for thermal safety.

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Next, the orbiter is arm
lifts HST out of the bay

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so the telescope's solar arrays
and antennas can be extended.

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The arm releases
the observatory into orbit

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some 300 miles above the earth.

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HST Solar arrays are oriented properly

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to convert the sun's energy
into electrical power for the observatory.

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The orbiter stays nearby
for about two days after release.

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In case HST needs further assistance
during this early critical period,

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once we establish that the spacecraft

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can operate on its own,
the orbiter returns to Earth.

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Meanwhile, ground control engineers
continue to verify that major components

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are up and running and that the telescope
is pointing properly.

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Next, through a
long series of calibrations, the telescope

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mirrors, star trackers,
bandgap sensors and rate gyros.

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Our land at approximately
the end of the first month.

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Marshall officially turned responsibility
for HST operations over to Garrett.

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During the second month.

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Goddard conducts further telescope

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calibrations and early
check out of the science instruments

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subsequent check out of the optics
and the instruments

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occurs during the remaining five months.

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Only then can the long
awaited observations

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begin

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to make these observations.

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HST commands must travel
an intricate path.

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The science commands from the Institute
are integrated

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with spacecraft commands
at Goddard's Control Center.

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Ultimately,
the signals are relayed to NASA

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tracking and data relay satellite orbiting
23.000 miles above Earth.

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The commands then go into HST
onboard computers to be implemented.

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This path reverses when data gathered by
an observation is sent back to Earth

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with commands loaded into its computers.

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The telescope automatically proceeds
with observations.

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In this case, HST
pivots slowly to its new target.

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Light from the target goes down
the telescope and hits the primary mirror.

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It reflects back to the secondary mirror,
reduced to a narrow beam.

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The light is aimed back to the focal plane
just behind it.

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The image is directed
to HST is fine guidance sensors

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which locate and lock on to guide
stars on either side of the target.

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With HST now centered on its target.

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The light travels into the science
instruments,

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which will make the observation

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the instruments shutters open.

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The correct filter is selected
and HST begins

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its exposure.

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While most observations are pre-planned,
10% require

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real time interaction
at the Institute by Scientists.

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Real time observations with the Space
Telescope Wi-Fi pre programing.

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For example, we want to observe
the red spots on Jupiter.

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These are complicated operations because
the planet moves and it also rotates.

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In order to be able to do this,
we have to take an early picture

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of the planet,
send information down to the ground,

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and then have an operator
make a very quick decision

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as to exactly where the instrument
that is being used has to be pointed.

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This is a very
challenging operation indeed.

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Within

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24 hours of an observation.
the observer can obtain the data

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from the Science Institute's Data
Archive and Distribution Service.

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The investigator who submitted
the proposal has exclusive rights

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to this information. For one year.

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After this period,
the data is available to scientists

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around the world
serving as an HST library.

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The archive will distribute
an equivalent of 500

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million pages of information
over a single year.

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The observations are distributed
through worldwide astronomical computer

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networks are through optical disks,

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magnetic tapes and photographs.

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Astronomers can use this information
at their home institute

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to further their own research.

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From this data, who can say
what great discoveries will be made?

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Astronomers
hope for answers about black holes,

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the evolution of galaxies
and the size of our universe.

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Looking to the future.

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To ensure the continuous flow
of such exciting data,

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NASA has created contingency plans
in contrast

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to the unexpected repair of the Solar
Maximum Mission spacecraft in 1984.

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Massa has prepared
for HST on orbit servicing.

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HST is

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designed and developed by NASA
for on orbit servicing by astronauts.

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Consequently, HST instruments
and various components

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were developed to be modular.

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This allows the astronauts
to replace degradable parts

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such as solar arrays and batteries
during routine servicing missions.

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The modular design also makes it possible

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to update the observatory
with new instruments.

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During the first planned
maintenance mission for the HST.

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We expect to remove
one of the original scientific instruments

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and replace it
with a near infrared instrument.

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The first scientific instruments on
the HST are sensitive to the ultraviolet

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and visible portions
of the electromagnetic spectrum.

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When we add an infrared capability,
we will be able to examine regions

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such as this, where stars
are in the process of formation today

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and will also be able to probe
still further back into the early history

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of our universe.

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Hubble Space

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Telescope operations can be compared
with the complexity and challenge

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of the operations necessary
to send astronauts to the moon.

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The expertize of thousands of individuals
has contributed

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to the innovative science instruments,
computer systems, information systems

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and maintenance hardware
that constitute HST operations network.

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This elaborate system supporting
Hubble space Telescope promises long

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sought answers to universal questions,
exciting discoveries to ponder,

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and possibly
a new understanding of our universe.