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STS-125

STS-125 was originally scheduled for launch in September 2008 but on 27 September a major component of the Hubble Space Telescope failed.  Because of its importance to the telescope NASA postponed the launch of STS-125 to 2009 so the failed unit could be replaced in addition to the previously planned activities.

 

In April 2009 a request to move the STS-125 launch up one day to May 11th was approved to increase the launch window for this increasingly important mission.  Space Shuttle Atlantis that would fly STS-125 was positioned on LC39A which was the only pad used for the last few years of the program.

 

STS-125 was the only shuttle mission launched after the Columbia accident that would not be able to rendezvous with the International Space Station to use it as a safe haven in the event of structural or mechanical failure.  In order to comply with the post-Columbia requirement of having shuttle that could Launch On Need to provide a rescue capability a special flight designation STS-400 was given to the Contingency Shuttle Crew Support mission which would have been flown by Endeavour from LC39B.

 

This represented the last time there were going to be two shuttles on the pads at the same time, a rare event occurring only 18 times over the three decade life of the shuttle program.  This was another reason for deciding to see the STS-125 launch.

 

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