Ep 2. Hubble's Amazing Rescue

In season 37, episode 2 of NOVA, titled "Hubble's Amazing Rescue," viewers are taken on a journey through space and time to witness one of the greatest feats in modern space exploration history. This episode chronicles the nail-biting mission to save the Hubble Space Telescope, an instrument that has revolutionized our understanding of the universe since its launch in 1990.

The episode begins by recounting the early days of the Hubble, when the telescope was first deployed into orbit by NASA. While initial images produced by the Hubble were promising, scientists soon noticed a problem: the images were blurry and out of focus. After extensive investigation, it was discovered that a flaw in the mirror was responsible for the poor quality images.

This revelation sparked a global effort to repair the Hubble, and that's where the heart of this episode lies. Over the course of four space shuttle missions between 1993 and 2009, teams of astronauts, engineers, and scientists worked together to first fix and then upgrade the telescope. Along the way, they encountered a series of difficult challenges that could have jeopardized the entire mission.

Viewers are introduced to some of the key individuals who helped make the mission possible, including scientists who worked on the telescope's instruments, astronauts who performed risky spacewalks to repair and upgrade the Hubble, and engineers who designed novel solutions to problems that arose during the mission.

One particularly compelling scene shows astronauts performing a critical repair to the Hubble's power supply, which had failed and left the telescope unable to communicate with Earth. The astronauts had to remove and replace faulty electrical components in the cramped conditions of the telescope, all while wearing bulky spacesuits and being subjected to extreme temperatures and radiation.

The episode is packed with tense moments like this, all captured in stunning high-definition footage that brings viewers right into the heart of the action. We see astronauts free-floating outside the shuttle, working on the Hubble with delicate precision; we witness the intricate design of the telescope's delicate instruments; and we are treated to breathtaking images of distant galaxies and nebulae captured by the Hubble over the years.

In addition to the technical aspects of the mission, the episode also delves into the human side of the story. Viewers are introduced to the families of astronauts and scientists, who describe the stresses and anxiety of supporting their loved ones on such a dangerous mission. We hear from astronauts who candidly discuss their fears and uncertainties before and during the mission, and we see firsthand the impact that the Hubble's discoveries have had on our understanding of the universe.

Overall, "Hubble's Amazing Rescue" is a thrilling and inspiring episode that underscores the power of human ingenuity and determination. Viewers will come away with a newfound appreciation for the Hubble and the role it has played in advancing our understanding of the cosmos, as well as a deeper understanding of the challenges and triumphs of space exploration.