Space History News space history and collectibles feature articles Messages discussion forums about space history and collecting Sightings calendar of worldwide astronaut appearances buySPACE marketplace for space artifacts, toys and memorabilia Resources collecting guides and selected space history documents Websites related space memorabilia and history websites - The Editor's Collection - Artifacts space flown equipment and ground support hardware Autographs who's who in space: the first 25 years of space exploration Books galleys, drafts, and advanced reading copies Medallions flown coins and those minted with flown metal Philatelics first day ceremony programs and flown stamps

Hubble Telescope Diode Box Cover Mission: STS-109 Columbia   Crew: Scott D. Altman Duane G. Carey John M. Grunsfeld Nancy J. Currie James H. Newman Richard M. Linnehan Michael J. Massimino Launch: March 1, 2002   Landing: March 12, 2002   Duration: 10 days, 22 hours   Comment: STS-109 was the third Hubble Space Telescope servicing mission and the last successful flight of shuttle Columbia. This Hubble Space Telescope Diode Box Assembly (DBA) thermal cover was one of two flown on STS-109. Made of perforated Kapton blanket material mounted to a aluminum alloy backing plate with Delrin retaining clips, this 35 by 6 by .25-inch cover was stowed on the Second Axial Carrier in the payload bay for launch and landing. During the third spacewalk, astronaut John Grunsfeld retrieved one of the covers and installed it on DBA2 before proceeding with the changeout of the Power Control Unit (PCU), the "heart" of the Hubble Space Telescope. The thermal cover protected the DBA from damage during the PCU replacement. back to Artifacts © 1999-2008 collectSPACE.com All rights reserved. Questions? E-mail contact@collectspace.com