Hubble Gets New Camera

The Hubble space telescope got some improved vision today in the form of a new camera. Two Atlantis astronauts completed a seven-hour spacewalk to give the 19-year-old telescope a much-needed upgrade, Space.com reports. "Woo-hoo, it's moving out," said astronaut Andrew Feustel after the old camera refused to budge at first. The spacewalk is the first of five planned over the shuttle's 11-day mission to service Hubble.

"We got to Hubble and gave Hubble a hug," said the other astronaut, John Grunsfeld. "And in traditional Hubble fashion, Hubble threw us a few curves." It was the first time since 2002 that humans had touched the telescope. The camera the astronauts replaced will return to earth and eventually go on display at the Smithsonian. (More Hubble Space Telescope stories.)