Comments on: Brute force Hubble fix saves the day--again

Astronaut Mike Massimino, confounded by a stripped screw, deliberately tears away a handrail inside the Hubble Space Telescope to clear the way for a successful instrument repair.

[spaceacer]

Looks like they are doing a kick ass job..

[timber2005]

Been watching via NASA TV online and more recently on Dish (ignore what the guide says, they are broadcasting Hubble Repair during the spacewalks) and I am as intrigued as I would have thought. It's just mind blowing.

Disappointed that the ACS high def. channel could not be brought back to life, but so much more has been accomplished that in the end, I think it will all work out. Having the WF channel working can compensate, even if it means a loss in definition. Before, neither worked.

Guys (nasa, and the crew), you are amazing.

[Hep Cat]

Most folks don't give due credit to NASA for this amazing achievement - the HST and Shuttle program - instead focussing on the failures of a program that has overcome insurmountable odds to prove we can build almost anything here in the U.S.

Thanks for your even-tempered, factual, and low-hype reporting!

[Bobadabob]

Thanks William; another great report! Its really good reading your pieces; those guys up there just amaze me. Will tune in tomorrow morning...

[Bobadabob]

Oops! Sorry Hep Cat - wasn't meant to be replying to your post... :-)

[alflanagan]

Did he really say "for Pete's sake" or has that been cleaned up for publication? ;)

[Jonathan]

The FCC can be a real *****. I'm willing to bet they would go after even NASA if there was foul lang over public airwaves.

[k9jdk]

Hats off to the Shuttle crew. Hoping for several more good years of the Hubble project.

God speed home.

[krollins83]

Those guys are good.... I have a lot more "colorful" language when I experience those issues (stripped screw, dead battery, etc...) in my own garage. I can't imagine doing the work they are... in SPACE... on BAZILLION $ equipment.... and keeping cool enough to watch their language.

Those are some nerves, and they're clearly living up to the very high bar that NASA's history has set.

[dream_fly]

I can't stop thinking about the American workmanship...be that in the GM cars or the Hubble. Even one of replacement parts didn't fit. And did they use a torque wrench to initially tightened the screws or just do what the Costco tire replacement guys do and over tighten them all? What about the electronic components? For crying out loud, not the power supply! Did they just buy those components from Fry's when they are on sales? I wish all these were jokes...

[alegr]

Brute force? So they forgot a root password to Hubble computer, and had to BF it. Just like in the movies. Oh, that's how it will be in a movie eventually.

[sam99999999]

Great article. Very well written.

[Hep Cat]

"Even one of replacement parts didn't fit."

And that's because why? Contractors didn't store the drawings that were made 30 years ago?

Yeah, it's NASA's fault that the contractor didn't follow through...and even if that's not the case, fixing a satellite in zero G ain't exactly like zapping Womp Rats back home, kid.