CHARLOTTE, N.C., 13 May 2009. The Space Shuttle Atlantis. launched this week in its final mission to the Hubble space telescope, brought with it Goodrich Corp.'s ISR Systems team in Danbury, Conn. The company's fine guidance sensor is part of the payload designed to add years of productive life to the telescope.

The Goodrich fine guidance sensors are critical components of the telescope's precise pointing control system, and are responsible for maintaining the stable pointing that produces the Hubble's outstanding pictures, says an official.

The sensors also aid in discovering and measuring the masses of planets in other solar systems as well as that of binary star systems, improving theories of star formation and evolution, continues the representative.

The sensor on this most recent Atlantis launch will replace an existing unit that has been operating in orbit on the Hubble for 10 years. It is among the equipment to be installed on the telescope during five planned spacewalks, to keep Hubble operational for roughly five more years.

Andreas Nonnemacher, vice president and general manager for Goodrich's ISR Systems team, says: "People around the world today know about Space because of the extraordinary pictures provided by the Hubble space telescope. Our team is honored to help extend its mission capabilities with our fine guidance sensor, and we look forward to continuing the support of advanced scientific exploration of the universe."