NASA Photo ID: S90-34384           File Name: 10063539.jpg
  Film Type: 4x5                     Date Taken: 04/10/90
  Title: STS-31 Hubble Space Telescope (HST) solar array (SA) mockup at MSFC, Alabama
  Description:
  A close-up shot shows an extravehicular mobility unit (EMU)-suited
  astronaut  inspecting a solar array (SA) on the Hubble Space Telescope
  (HST) mockup in  the Neutral Buoyancy Simulator (NBS) at the Marshall Space
  Flight Center  (MSFC) in Huntsville, Alabama.  MSFC managed the design and
  development of  the telescope.  The weightlessness simulator was used to
  practice SA  contingency procedures that might be used in space. Astronauts
  also practiced  SA servicing missions in the simulator which they will
  perform on the  telescope in space.  The solar arrays which supply
  electrical power to the  space telescope were developed and contributed by
  the European Space Agency  (ESA).  ESA's two prime contractors were British
  Aerospace in England and AEG  in West Germany.  The two wing-like solar
  arrays contain 48,000 solar cells.   They convert the sun's energy to
  electricity during that portion of an orbit  when they are exposed to
  sunlight.  The power is stored in six batteries to  support the telescope
  during eclipse.  HST was developed by NASA and its  partners in space and
  is scheduled for launch in April 1990.  View released  by MSFC on Release
  No. 90P-37 with alternate MSFC number 559802C.      
  
  Subject terms:
  ALABAMA                                 
  EXTRAVEHICULAR MOBILITY UNITS           
  HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE                  
  MARSHALL SPACE FLIGHT CENTER            
  MOCK-UP                                 
  NEUTRAL BUOYANCY SIMULATION             
  SOLAR ARRAYS                            
  STS-31                                  
  WEIGHTLESS ENVIRONMENT TRAINING         
  

NASA Home Page

JSC Home Page

Imagery Services Home Page

Search