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Astronauts inspect Atlantis while chasing Hubble

(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-05-12 22:59

The US space shuttle Atlantis lifts off at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on the final shuttle mission to service NASA's Hubble Space Telescope. [Agencies]

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Shuttle Atlantis is racing after the Hubble Space Telescope a day after taking off on a daring repair mission.

On Tuesday, the seven astronauts will spend the entire day inspecting virtually every inch of the shuttle for any launch damage. They surveyed the thermal shielding on their crew cabin Monday evening.

Related readings:  NASA clears shuttle for flight to Hubble  NASA starts layoffs as shuttles to retire  Repaired space shuttle ready for launch try  NASA: Shuttle moves to avoid space junk  Hobbled Hubble Space Telescope revived

This final trip to Hubble is especially dangerous because of all the space junk in the telescope's 350-mile-high orbit. Atlantis seems to have come through its launch fairly well, at least. But the analysis is continuing.

Another shuttle, Endeavour, is at the launch pad and could take off in three to six days if the astronauts had to be rescued.

Atlantis will catch up to Hubble on Wednesday.