By Matt Phillips
Special to Review
For nearly a year, Space Shuttle Mission STS-125 has been grounded. If all goes right, it will lift off in May.
In addition to being a crucial step toward repairing the Hubble Telescope, the mission will include Lake Orion’s own Dr. Andrew Feustel.
Feustel, a 1983 graduate of Lake Orion High School, has been meticulously training for the mission for nearly seven years.
Unfortunately, an additional eight months was added to the training schedule when a computer malfunction with the Hubble last September forced a delay. The mission that was planned for October 2008 was postponed.
Feustel, a NASA mission specialist said, ‘Delays like this are to be expected with space travel. So many variables can impact the safety and success of each mission that NASA does not leave anything to chance, so all conditions are carefully analyzed before any final decisions on the launch are finalized.?
The seven-member crew of the space shuttle Atlantis have experienced numerous postponements due to a variety of factors.
When news came of a major malfunction to the Hubble Telescope’s main computer last fall, the mission was in jeopardy of ever happening.
The earth-bound Feustel came to Lake Orion last November during a brief break from pre-flight preparations to be honored by both the Lake Orion Community Schools as a Distinguished Alumni, and by the Orion Township board, who passed a proclamation honoring his accomplishments.
‘NASA is well prepared with contingency plans, but this one was a bit different,? Fuestel said about the delay.
NASA had a back-up computer module to replace the malfunctioning device on Hubble. The equipment had been in storage and needed to be thoroughly tested before a decision could be made as to its compatibility and its reliability under space conditions.
Then came the question of timing. The crew already had a full docket of repairs, so there was a question of whether it was feasible to eliminate other tasks to fit the repair in.
These were the main concerns for NASA engineers and the shuttle crew.
Since clearing these crucial hurdles, all systems appear to be a ‘go? for mission launch at 1:31 p.m. on Tuesday, May 12.
Feustel, who will participate in three of the five scheduled spacewalks, said, ‘While we would certainly rather get the mission underway, we have definitely made the most of our time.?
That time consists of extensive underwater simulations at the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory in Houston, Texas. The training closely replicates the weightless environment in space and adds realism to mission preparation.
‘The more time that we rehearse our tasks, the more we increase our proficiency, thus increasing the probability of success. We will be ready,? Feustel said.
Please be sure to check back with The Review in the coming weeks for updates on Dr. Drew Feustel and the status of Space Shuttle Mission STS-125.