Me and Dr. John Mace Grunsfeld, PhD in Astronomy and NASA Astronaut in Venice, Church of San Vidal. Public conference, October 13, 2010. Credit: A. Cardullo.
L’astronauta americano John M. Grunsfeld è stato ospite speciale il 13 settembre scorso a Venezia, in occasione della mostra dedicata ai vent’anni di attività dell’Hubble Space Telescope. Durante la conferenza pubblica, il Dr. Grunsfeld, PhD in astronomia e astronauta della NASA, ha raccontato delle cinque missioni spaziali cui è stato protagonista, tre dedicate alla riparazione della strumentazione di Hubble. E’ stato possibile ammirare alcune immagini inedite dell’ultima servicing mission all’Hubble, la STS-125 (11-24 maggio 2009). Da questo momento in poi ogni non sarà più possibile riparare il telescopio più famoso al mondo.
Più in basso, una serie di immagini inedite che il Dr. Roger Weiss della NASA-ISS mi ha lasciato e che raccontano la festa che gli amici, colleghi e familiari degli astronauti hanno fatto loro per il rientro a casa, il 26 maggio 2009.
A veteran of five space flights, STS-67 (1995), STS-81 (1997), STS-103 (1999) STS-109 (2002) and STS-125 (2009), Dr. Grunsfeld has logged over 58 days in space, including 58 hours and 30 minutes of EVA in 8 space walks.
Dr. Grunsfeld retired from NASA in December 2009 and currently serves as Deputy Director, Space Telescope Science Institute, in Baltimore, Maryland.
STS-125 Atlantis (May 11-24, 2009) was the fifth and final Hubble servicing mission. After 19 years on orbit the telescope got a major renovation which included the installation of a new wide field camera and a new ultraviolet telescope, new batteries, a guidance sensor, gyroscopes and other repairs. Grunsfeld served as the lead spacewalker in charge of the spacewalking and Hubble activites. He performed 3 of the 5 spacewalks on this flight totaling 20 hours, 58 minutes.
STS-125 Atlantis Crew Welcome Home Ceremony
The superstar STS-125 Atlantis crew enthusiastically welcomed by family, friends, co-workers, team-mates, and public at Ellington Air Force Base, Houston on May 26, 2009. Credit: Roger Weiss, NASA.
Scott Altman, Greg Johnson. Credit: Roger Weiss, NASA.
Greg Johnson, Mike Good, Megan McArthur. Credit: Roger Weiss, NASA.
Megan McArthur, John Grunsfeld, Mike Massimino. Credit: Roger Weiss, NASA.
John Grunsfeld, Mike Massimino, Drew Feustel. Credit: Roger Weiss, NASA.
NASA/JSC Building 4-South 1st floor’s “Hall of Fame,” where support teams decorate the walls with great photos from training and in-flight… Adorned with hilarious captions…also significant objects memorable for the crew…. Here, Mr. Hubble! Credit: Roger Weiss, NASA.
Special thanks to my Friend Dr. Roger Weiss (SAIC / NASA-Johnson Space Center) for his permission to publish these photos. They are wonderful pieces in the history of astronautics.
Sabrina Masiero
