NASA astronaut visits, thanks the 746th TS

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Michael Means
  • 49th Fighter Wing/Public Affairs
HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  Retired Col. Michael Good, NASA astronaut and crew member of the Space Shuttle Atlantis STS-125, spoke to members of the 746th Test Squadron, Feb. 16, and thanked them for their support in the Space Shuttle mission.

STS-125 was the final Space Shuttle mission to the Hubble Space Telescope and Holloman's 746th TS played a key role in the mission to HST by servicing some equipment that was used.

"Colonel Good's visit was very exciting and definitely very interesting," said 1st Lt. Christine Laning, 746th TS test manager for the Hubble test program. "Getting to meet and hear from an astronaut is exciting in itself but especially a person who actually took the equipment we worked with and brought it into space to repair the Hubble was especially remarkable. It made me feel that our efforts here were very connected to the awesome national asset that is the Hubble Space Telescope."

STS-125 Atlantis was completed May 24, 2009, and was the fifth and final Hubble servicing mission to install four new or rejuvenated scientific instruments, new batteries, new gyroscopes, new outer blankets and a new computer on the HST.

The gyroscopes replaced on the Hubble space telescope were tested here by the 746th TS.

"It is pretty special to know that our work was fundamental to the success of a shuttle mission and the continued achievements of the Hubble Space Telescope," said Reese Sturdevant, 746 TS analyst for the Hubble test program.

Colonel Good logged almost 13 days in space, and a total of 15 hours and 58 minutes of Extravehicular Activities in two spacewalks according to the official NASA website. Members of the 746th TS were proud to have helped make the mission possible for Colonel Good.

"I am very proud of my minute contributions made over the past 28 years to the overall success of the HST and the science it is accomplishing," said Cleon Barker, 746th TS inertial expert and primary Hubble test team member. "I felt very honored to have a mission specialist take the time to come visit the squadron."

Lt. Col. Amy McCain, the 746th TS commander, said Colonel Good's visit was a great honor for the squadron.

"It's very fulfilling to see the impact of the work the squadron did to ensure that Hubble Space Telescope functions at the highest level possible ... whenever I look at a photo taken by the Hubble, I'll know that our unit had an active role in making it possible," said Colonel McCain.

Colonel Good thanked the members of the 46th Test Group for the work they do that helped make the mission to the Hubble Space telescope a success.

"I salute all you folks here and the work you have done to help me achieve my dream and fly in space," said Colonel Good. "I really appreciate the work you do and for giving me the opportunity to be here."

Colonel Good is assigned to the crew of STS-132 targeted for launch in May of this year. The flight will deliver the Russian-built Mini Research Module to the International Space Station.