posted 06-16-2009 12:39 PM               

Space Cover #9, STS-125 Launch Delay 9/2008

On September 27, 2008, STS-125 had already rolled out to the launch pad and was awaiting its launch date when Hubble's Control Unit/Science Data Formatter - Side A hardware failed. Over the next several days the failure was reviewed and NASA determined that this component would need to be replaced during the STS-125 mission. On September 29 the STS-125 mission was postponed until sometime in 2009 as NASA would have to check out the backup system at Goddard and deliver it to KSC. Atlantis was then rolled back to the Vehicle Assembly Building on October 20 to await demating of the SRBs and external tank. STS-125 was launched on May 11, 2009.

This cover has a Goddard Space Flight Center cancel for the date of the hardware failure - NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, MD performs the daily orbital operations for Hubble. It also has a KSC cancel for the date the STS-125 mission was postponed and a KSC cancel for the date of the rollback to the VAB.