Servicing the Hubble Space Telescope:
Space Shuttle Atlantis 2009

Author:

Dennis R Jenkins & Jorge R. Frank

Publisher

Specialty Press

Price

$19.95 from Specialty Press

Reviewer:

Scott Van Aken

Notes: ISBN 978-1-58007-138-3, 120 pages, 320 photos, softcover

One of the crowning feats of the last 20 years has been the launching and deployment of the Hubble Space Telescope. However, it raised controversy when it was announced, not due to the science, but the cost. Controverys re-appeared in 2004 when it was announced that the last mission to upgrade and repair the Hubble was cancelled. Thankfully, cooler heads began a campaign to restore funding to keep this outstanding scientific instrument in service a bit longer and the decision was rescinded. This was good news for the community of astronomers world wide who have used Hubble images to make some startling revelations over the years.

The shuttle fleet will be retired in 2010, making future missions impossible as the Orion replacement vehicle is basically an upgraded Apollo and unable to reach the orbit of Hubble as was possible with the Shuttle.

This book by authors Dennis R. Jenkins and Jorge R. Frank cover the STS-125 mission to do the final upgrades and repairs to the Hubble, a 12 day and 5 spacewalk mission that has even further enhanced the capabilities of space telescope. The book covers more than just this mission with a look at Hubble and how it came into being. It also has sections on what makes up the Hubble and what each of the various modules do. Those that have been upgraded and replaced are also covered in a fascinating look at one of man's eminent scientific instruments.

What is equally as compelling as the story and background are the superlative images that accompany this edition. Not only the ground shots of the Hubble and the Atlantis launch story, but several pages of images from the Hubble are included, in all their glory. They are truly stunning looks at our universe, both near and far and alone make the book one that is worth having.

Specialty Press is known for high quality books and this one certainly follows in that mold. The attention to detail and quality research along with the typical superlative images makes for a book that I can quite easily recommend to you. Highly recommended.

October 2009

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