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JPL and the Space Age: To the Rescue

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory・38 minutes read

Key Points: Recipe for classic spaghetti carbonara, ingredients and preparation steps listed. Hubble Space Telescope launched with issues, proposed solution to fix blurry images. Main Purpose: Discuss the recipe for spaghetti carbonara and the challenges faced by NASA with the Hubble Space Telescope. TLDR: Recipe for classic spaghetti carbonara provided alongside the challenges faced by NASA in fixing the Hubble Space Telescope's blurry images.

Insights

  • The Hubble Space Telescope initially sent back blurry images, causing a crisis for NASA and risking the future of the space station. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory proposed a solution involving minor adjustments to the camera and fixing Hubble's primary mirror to rectify the spherical aberration issue.
  • JPL engineers worked tirelessly to remotely adjust the camera's mirrors, utilizing new technologies and unique methods like using surgeon's gloves to clean the mirrors. The Hubble rescue mission in 1993 required a record-setting five spacewalks, with the corrective optics package WFPC-2 playing a crucial role in successfully fixing Hubble and proving the effectiveness of the repairs.

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Recent questions

  • What was the initial crisis faced by NASA regarding the Hubble Space Telescope?

    Blurry images posed a crisis for NASA.

  • What was the proposed solution to fix the blurry images from the Hubble Space Telescope?

    JPL proposed minor adjustments to the camera for a repair mission in 1993.

  • What role did the Wide Field and Planetary Camera play in fixing the Hubble Space Telescope?

    The WFPC-2 played a crucial role in fixing Hubble.

  • How did NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory address the challenges faced by the Hubble Space Telescope?

    JPL engineers worked tirelessly to fix the issue with Hubble's mirrors.

  • What was the outcome of the Hubble rescue mission launched in December 1993?

    The first image from WFPC-2 after the repair was a success.

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Summary

00:00

"Classic Spaghetti Carbonara Recipe"

  • Recipe for classic spaghetti carbonara
  • Ingredients: spaghetti (400g), eggs (4), pecorino cheese (100g), guanciale (100g), black pepper
  • Boil spaghetti until al dente
  • Mix eggs, cheese, and pepper in a bowl
  • Fry guanciale until crispy
  • Combine spaghetti, guanciale, and egg mixture
  • Serve with extra cheese and pepper on top

00:00

Hubble's Mirrors Fixed in Daring Mission

  • The Hubble Space Telescope was launched with high hopes of revolutionizing our understanding of the universe.
  • However, the blurry images it initially sent back posed a crisis for NASA.
  • The future of Hubble, the space station, and NASA itself were at stake.
  • NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory proposed a solution to fix Hubble's eyesight.
  • This solution aimed to turn a national embarrassment into a source of pride.
  • JPL was also dealing with emergencies on three spacecraft, with not all surviving.
  • The Wide Field and Planetary Camera, built by JPL, was crucial for Hubble's mission.
  • The camera promised breathtaking views of the cosmos.
  • Astronomers were shocked by Hubble's first light images due to spherical aberration.
  • Spherical aberration led to blurry images, causing a public relations disaster.
  • JPL's science team suspected the issue lay with Hubble's mirrors.
  • Minor adjustments to the camera were proposed for a repair mission in 1993.
  • Calculations pointed to a problem with Hubble's primary mirror.
  • The mirror's shape was off by four microns, causing the blurry images.
  • Knowing the precise error amount opened up the possibility of a remedy.
  • JPL engineers worked tirelessly to fix the issue with Hubble's mirrors.
  • The solution involved changing the shape of tiny mirrors inside the camera.
  • A new technology was embraced to adjust the camera's mirrors remotely.
  • A unique method involving surgeon's gloves was used to clean the camera's mirrors.
  • The Hubble rescue mission launched in December 1993 with a crew of seven.
  • The mission required a record-setting five spacewalks to fix Hubble.
  • The astronauts practiced extensively to ensure the mission's success.
  • WFPC-2, the corrective optics package, played a crucial role in fixing Hubble.
  • The first image from WFPC-2 after the repair was a success, proving the fix worked.
  • WFPC-2 operated for over 15 years before being replaced in 2009.
  • Galileo, with a stuck antenna, found ways around the problem and made significant discoveries.
  • Magellan successfully mapped 98% of Venus's surface using radar.
  • Mars Observer was lost due to a fuel line rupture during pressurization, leading to a catastrophic spin.
  • Mars became a testing ground for NASA's ability to create faster, better, and cheaper missions.
  • JPL faced challenges and setbacks but continued to push the boundaries of space exploration.
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