Here's to a great job & hoping it works as promised
By MARCIA DUNN, AP Aerospace Writer
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) - Their mission accomplished, space shuttle Columbia's astronauts released a more energetic and scientifically potent Hubble Space Telescope into orbit Saturday after five days of repairs.
"Good luck, Mr. Hubble," astronaut John Grunsfeld called out.
Shuttle crane operator Nancy Currie set Hubble free as the two spacecraft zoomed 360 miles above the Atlantic. She had used Columbia's robot arm last weekend to capture the 43-foot, 24,500-pound telescope and anchor it in the cargo bay.
Columbia slowly backed away from Hubble, giving the world its last close-up look at the telescope until astronauts return for another overhaul in two years.