Last Mission to Hubble: STS-125

What a great mission so far for the crew of Atlantis.  It’s been fun the past week watching John Grunsfeld, Drew Feustel, Mike Massimino, and Mike Good work on Hubble.  It was also great to see the entire crew (including Scott “Scooter” Altman, Greg “Ray J” Johnson, and Megan McArthur) during the live press conference from space.  The NASA EDGE team will never forget this mission because we had the chance to hang out with the crew, especially Drew Feustel and Mike Good.  It started back in 2008 when we first met Drew during the Hot Laps event at Daytona International Speedway.  NASA was celebrating its 50th anniversary and Daytona was celebrating the 50th running of the Daytona 500.  We shot Drew for our “Last Mission to Hubble” vodcast.  If you haven’t seen it, go to https://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/podcasting/nasaedge/NE00_Last_Mission_Hubble.html.

Chris, Drew, and Blair change a tire at the Daytona Experience.  Credit: NASA EDGE/Ron Beard

I still think the training in the above pic helped Drew muscle a tough bolt loose during EVA 1.  A couple of weeks later we met Mike Good at the Daytona 500 race.  We also shot him for the Hubble vodcast.  Mike hung out with us all day and he had a chance to sign autographs.

Chris, Mike Good, and Ron pose for a picture along the track wall. Credit: NASA EDGE/Blair Allen

Mike actually signed the track wall and we have some good close-ups of it.  In fact, we are convinced this was part of his training to actually sign his name on Hubble during his last EVA.  Still waiting to hear from Mike if he did this.

We shot the rest of the crew at NASA Johnson Space Center.  I don’t have a picture of it but Mike Massimino scared the daylights out of Blair.  Imagine a 6’4″ broad shoulder guy standing in front of a 5’0″ red headed co-host (very intimidating).  But seriously, we all had fun and the crew was very accomodating with our needs.

STS-125 Crew walk out.  Credit: NASA EDGE/Chris Giersch

The crew walk out was really a huge deal for us because we heard Mike Good give us a shout out.  In fact you can hear it on our latest NASA EDGE vodcast on STS-125.  Download it today at https://www.nasa.gov/nasaedge.

STS-125 launch.  Credit: NASA EDGE/Chris Giersch

The launch says it all.  We have been very privileged to have worked with this fine crew and get the chance to spend some time with each of them.  I know we’ve covered other shuttle missions in the past and probably will cover more in the future but I believe this will be a NASA EDGE favorite.  This is our adopted crew and mission.  They did it right and everyone should be proud of their accomplishments.

I do have one final wish.  Scooter is responsible for “buzzing the tower” during the movie “Top Gun.”  Will he buzz the tower or VAB one final time?

Congratulations to the STS-125 crew and have a safe reentry and landing on Friday.

The Host