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First scientific observations begin at the 8.2-m optical/infrared Subaru Telescope on Mauna Kea, Hawaii. Subaru is an Ritchey-Chretien reflecting telescope operated by the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ).

IMAGE CREDIT: Subaru Telescope, National Astronomical Observatory of Japan

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The Gemini Observatory consists of twin 8.1-meter (26.58 feet) diameter optical/infrared telescopes. Gemini North (the Frederick C. Gillett Gemini Telescope) is located on top of Mauna Kea, Hawaii. First-light in January, 1999, was followed by commissioning and a phase-in of scientific operations through 2000. Gemini South, on Cerro Pachón, Chile, saw first light in 2000.

IMAGE CREDIT: Gemini Observatory

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Stardust is the first U.S. mission dedicated solely to a comet and was the first to return extraterrestrial material from outside the orbit of the moon. Stardust's main objective was to capture a sample from a well-preserved comet called Wild-2 (pronounced "Vilt-2").

IMAGE: Animation sequence of Stardust's flyby images of Comet Wild 2

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Hubble observations allow astronomers to refine the universe’s expansion rate to within 10 percent accuracy.

OBJECT: NGC 4603

CREDIT: J. Newman (Univ. of California at Berkeley) and NASA

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Astronomers using the Hubble telescope take the sharpest views yet of the Red Planet during its closest approach to Earth in eight years. Dark sand dunes that surround the polar cap merge into a large, dark region called Acidalia. This area is composed of dark, sand-sized grains of pulverized volcanic rock.

OBJECT: Mars

CREDIT: S. Lee (U of Colorado), J. Bell (Cornell University), M. Wolff (Space Science Institute), and NASA

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The third member of the Great Observatory family, the Chandra X-Ray Observatory (CXO), is deployed from a Space Shuttle and boosted into a high-Earth orbit. Chandra observes such objects as black holes, quasars, and high-temperature gases throughout the x-ray portion of the electromagnetic spectrum.

Since the second Servicing Mission in February 1997, three of Hubble’s six gyroscopes had failed, causing some concern among NASA officials. At the time, Hubble was unable to conduct science without at least three working gyroscopes. The unexpected failure of a fourth gyroscope caused NASA to place Hubble into safe mode, a protective 'hibernation,' until the already-planned servicing mission a month later.

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In Part A of the two-part Third Servicing Mission, astronauts replaced the telescope’s six gyroscopes, which help the orbiting observatory point at celestial objects.

MISSION HIGHLIGHTS:

? Replacement of all three RSU (Rate Sensing Unit containing two gyroscopes each).
? Installation of new computer, 20 times faster with six times more memory than its predecessor.
? Replacement of orginial reel-to-reel data recorder with digital Solid State Recorder (SSR) which is faster, more reliable and can store 10 times as much data.
? Replacement of #2 of 3 Fine Guidance Sensors (FGS) with refurbished unit.
? Replacement of failed #2 of 2 S-Band Single Access Transmitter (SSAT) used to relay data to the ground.
? Installation six Voltage/Temperature Improvement Kits (VIKs) on wiring between Solar Arrays and each battery to control charging of Hubble's batteries.
? Installation of Shell/Shield Replacement Fabric (SSRF) over the original Multi-Layer Insulation on Hubble's forward shell and light shield to add thermal protection.
? Installation of Handrail Covers around the handrails above the Fine Guidance Sensor bay to prevent possible contamination to the Aft Shroud area from flaking handrail paint.
? Fit New Outer Blanket Layers (NOBLs) on equipment Bay 1