Ep 1. Hubble's Final Frontier

In the first episode of National Geographic Documentaries' 2009 season, viewers are taken on a journey through space to the final frontier of the Hubble Space Telescope. The Hubble has been in space for nearly two decades, capturing stunning images of distant galaxies, nebulae, and other celestial bodies that have revolutionized our understanding of the universe. But with the telescope reaching the end of its service life, this episode follows a team of scientists and engineers as they engage in a risky and complex mission to repair and upgrade the Hubble for one last time.

The episode begins with a brief history of the Hubble, from its launch in 1990 to its early technical problems that nearly led to its abandonment and loss. The telescope's managers and designers explain how they overcame these obstacles, with the help of a series of successful maintenance missions in orbit. But with each repair and upgrade, the stakes became higher and the challenges greater, and the Hubble's days were clearly numbered. Still, many scientists and ordinary people alike were inspired and awed by the discoveries that the Hubble made possible, and some were even moved to tears when they learned that the telescope's future was in jeopardy.

Against this backdrop, the episode introduces us to the team of scientists and engineers who are tasked with servicing the Hubble one last time. They are accompanied by a film crew who document every stage of the mission, from the training and preparation on Earth to the launch and spacewalks in orbit. Along the way, we learn about the complex tasks that the team must perform, such as replacing instruments, repairing faulty parts, and installing new technology that will extend the telescope's lifespan by several more years.

One of the key challenges of the mission is the risk of danger to the astronauts who are performing the repairs and upgrades. The episode includes footage from inside the shuttle and from cameras outside the spacecraft, showing how the astronauts must work in the vacuum of space and avoid colliding with other objects in orbit. We also see how they must grapple with unexpected problems, such as a jammed tool or a loose bolt, and how they must improvise solutions using their ingenuity and expertise.

Throughout the episode, we are treated to stunning images and footage from the Hubble itself, showcasing some of the telescope's greatest hits. We get to see the Pillars of Creation, a towering column of gas and dust in the Eagle Nebula; the Sombrero Galaxy, a beautiful spiral galaxy with a distinctive hat-like shape; and the Butterfly Nebula, a colorful cloud of gas and dust that resembles a butterfly's wings. These and other images are a testament to the Hubble's contribution to science and to our sense of wonder about the universe.

As the episode draws to a close, we learn that the mission was a success, and that the Hubble is once again a cutting-edge scientific instrument that will continue to push the boundaries of our knowledge about space. We also get a sense of the emotional impact that the Hubble has had on the people who have worked on it, both as scientists and engineers and as ordinary people touched by its beauty and mystery. The episode ends with a poignant tribute to the Hubble and to the men and women who have dedicated their lives to exploring its final frontier.