NASA sets May date for Hubble repairs

updated 10:20 a.m. ET Dec. 5, 2008

WASHINGTON - NASA has set a May date for its space shuttle mission to fix the Hubble Space Telescope for a final time.

The space agency Thursday announced that it is aiming to launch the shuttle Atlantis on May 12 for what would be an 11-day repair and upgrade mission to the $10 billion space telescope.

NASA was going to fix Hubble in October, but weeks before the shuttle launch, a glitch in Hubble's science computer forced a delay. The problem was fixed but NASA wants to fly up a new backup. Testing of the spare part has shown problems, causing a delay of at least seven months.

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