Date of Last Hubble Misison Set

September 10, 2008 will be the date for the last servicing mission to the Hubble Space Telescope. The last service mission to Hubble, STS-125, will be performed by a seven person crew aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis during an 11-day mission. This servicing mission will repair and improve Hubble's abilities through 2013.

This date was finally set because NASA managers did not want to interfere shuttle launches with their plans to complete the International Space Station by 2010; the same time the space shuttle fleet is due to retire.NASA is deciding how to spread out the next few shuttle missions, because they want to complete the ISS, service Hubble for the last time, and accomplish as much as they can before the shuttles are sent into retirement.

"Image Above: The astronauts selected for the final shuttle mission to perform work on the Hubble Space Telescope pose for a group photo. From left to right are astronauts Megan McArthur, Michael Good, Gregory C. Johnson, Scott Altman, John Grunsfeld, Michael Massimino and Andrew Feustel. Image credit: NASA" -- NASA