May 13, 2009 5:27 pm US/Eastern
Md. Scientist Depends On Hubble Repairs Going Well
BALTIMORE (WJZ) ―
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The Hubble Space Telescope no longer orbits alone. The crew of the space shuttle Atlantis has chased down and snagged the Hubble.
The Hubble Space Telescope no longer orbits alone. The crew of the space shuttle Atlantis has chased down and snagged the Hubble.
Alex DeMetrick reports what happens next has local scientists crossing their fingers.
While Maryland was getting back from lunch Wednesday, the crew of Atlantis was closing in on the Hubble Space Telescope. While that brought relief at mission control, what happens next is the main event. They begin the delicate job of replacing instruments that have worn out.
It's good news if it all gets done and works.
Adam Riess' work also depends upon it. Using Hubble images, the Hopkins astrophysicist discovered something brand new--the mysterious, invisible force of dark energy.
"It would be like taking a ball and tossing it up in the air. You'd expect it to come back down. But if it kept going up, you'd be shocked. That's pretty much how shocked we were 10 years ago when we saw this," said Riess.
Using the light from distant exploding stars, Riess found the universe is expanding, not slowing as believed.
But two years ago, the camera critical to finding exploding stars went dead, and Riess lost his most important research tool. To get back out there, a new camera will be installed, and Riess will search for more clues to figure out what dark energy is.
While a new camera aboard Hubble is critical to people like Riess, NASA gives the odds of success at 50-50.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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