Hubble space telescope propulsion

Is anyone aware of the type of propulsion used to move the Hubble?
Know any specifics?

[Mod. note: http://www.stsci.edu/ would be a good starting point -- mjh]

cheapbeersucks wrote:
Is anyone aware of the type of propulsion used to move the Hubble?
Know any specifics?

[Mod. note: http://www.stsci.edu/ would be a good starting point -- mjh]

Short answer - none. HST has no onboard propulsion or attitude
thrusters. All orbital maneuvers are done by an attached shuttle.
Hence the issue about deorbiting with a robotically-docked
propulsive unit... Attitude control uses what are basically
flywheels (I think the more specific term in spacecraft is gyrodynes).

Bill Keel

Your saying that to change its viewing direction requires a shuttle to
manuver it?

cheapbeersucks wrote:
Your saying that to change its viewing direction requires a shuttle to
manuver it?

No, attitude change does not require propulsion (that term being
generally reserved for ways of changing the spacecraft velocity).
That's what it uses reaction off the flywheels for. These can have
their spin rate strimmed as needed using reaction from electromagnets
and the terrestrial magnetic field (and thus do not require any fuel,
as such). Considerable detail may be found at www.stsci.edu and the
linked GSFC project site.

Bill Keel

Thanks B!