On Monday the space shuttle Atlantis blasted off for a long-delayed mission to repair the Hubble Space Telescope.

On a nearby launch pad is the space shuttle Endeavour – on stand-by just in case something happens out in space to the 7-person crew.

It’s the possibility of a space rescue that MSNBC.com’s James Oberg says makes this a high-stakes mission:

“As NASA prepares for its final service call to the Hubble Space Telescope, it's also preparing for something never attempted in the history of the shuttle program: a rescue operation so dramatic that Hollywood would be hard-pressed to come up with a more outlandish plot.” (MSNBC.com)

CNN explains why repairing Hubble matters:

“Pictures that take us to the edge of the universe, to far away galaxies, a look back at time and into black holes.” (CNN)

Two Atlantis astronauts, Mike Massimino and Mark Polansky, will be Tweeting from outer space.

Tweets Massimino:

“I’m going to put my spacesuit on, next stop: Earth Orbit!” (Twitter)

FloridaToday.com’s John Kelly writes that after watching 15 space shuttle launches, he still gets goosebumps when they blast-off:

“It's easy to take the shuttle for granted. We've seen it so many times here. It may start to look routine. It's not. Flight after flight, the space shuttle is one of the most amazing things men and women have ever done.” (FloridayToday.com)

Sci/Health News

Heavenly Mission: Hubble Repair

May 11, 2009
(2:12)
The space shuttle Atlantis blasts off for a long-delayed mission to repair the Hubble Space Telescope on Monday -- with space shuttle Endeavour on standby in case of emergency.
   
YOU NEED FLASH TO VIEW THIS VIDEO
TRANSCRIPT

To leave a comment, please log in with Facebook Connect or your Newsy account. Register here to create one.
MOST RECENT|MOST POPULAR|MOST COMMENTED|HIGHEST RATED

Palin Fires Up CPAC Crowd
Analyst debate how will Sarah Palin's speech impact the GOP race?
(1:46)
February 13, 2012
Media Runs Rampant With Houston Death Speculation
Just after Houston’s death news broke, the media began to speculate on the cause behind it.
(2:08)
February 12, 2012
Obama’s 2013 Budget Invests in Infrastructure, Raises Taxes
The proposed budget sends more money to transportation, cuts from military spending and relies on tax increases for high-income Americans.
(2:23)
February 12, 2012
Al Qaeda Increasingly Involved in Syria
Al Qaeda's leader urged followers to join anti-Assad rebels. U.S. officials claim the organization is already responsible for several bombings.
(1:46)
February 12, 2012
Will 'Lin-Sanity' Last Long?
Undrafted Jeremy Lin might be the next great NBA star, but can he sustain his high level of play?
(2:23)
February 12, 2012
Grammys Preview: What to Expect
From Adele's comeback performance to the always-surprising Kanye West to a last-minute Whitney Houston tribute, find out what to watch for tonight.
(1:58)
February 12, 2012
Sunday Soundbite Analysis 02/12/12
Chief of Staff Jack Lew, speaks about the fragile US economy and Obama’s controversial policy.
(3:10)
February 12, 2012
Whitney Houston Dies at 48
Whitney Houston had won 6 Grammys, 2 Emmys, 16 Billboard Music Awards and 23 Music Awards.
(2:37)
February 12, 2012
Did John Wayne Gacy Have An Accomplice?
New theories from two Chicago attorneys suggest the infamous serial killer did not work alone.
(2:17)
February 12, 2012
Madonna Stalker Recaptured After Escape
Madonna stalker Robert Dewey Hoskins escaped from a mental institution a week ago. On Friday, officers picked up Hoskins on a sidewalk in Long Beach.
(1:21)
February 12, 2012
Waffle House Hosts Special Menu for Valentine’s Day
Waffle House will be offering a special menu which will include items such as ribeye, eggs, pork chop and T-bone dinners.
(1:20)
February 12, 2012
Newsy Now: February 12 (GMT 1330)
Whitney Houston's body taken to morgue for autopsy; Romney wraps up Maine and CPAC; European cold snap continues; Microsoft's answer to iPad?
(1:51)
February 12, 2012
Children’s Leukemia Drug Supply Dangerously Low
A lifesaving drug that cures childhood leukemia is running out of supply, which has doctors and the FDA scrambling to find more.
(1:30)
February 12, 2012
Murdoch Faces Scandal at The Sun
Less than a year after the shutdown of The News of The World, News Corp. chairman Rupert Murdoch faces a new scandal at British paper The Sun.
(1:35)
February 12, 2012

Newsy