NASA: National Aeronautics and Space Administration

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  1. Question

    Does the Hubble space craft require servicing?

    There is no immediate need for servicing of the Hubble Space Telescopes, but over the long term it does require a service mission every few years. These missions have repaired worn out parts such as solar panels and gyros, replaced science instruments with improved versions, and reboosted the telescope to a higher orbit to compensate for its gradual spiraling in from the very tiny amounts of atmospheric drag it experiences. For more information on the Hubble, check out the website of the Space Telescope Science Institute at , or look at the NASA Office of Space Science site .

    David Morrison
    NAI Senior Scientist

    May 5, 2004