STS-109 Crew Interview: Grunsfeld

Abstract

STS-109 Payload Commander John Grunsfeld is seen during a prelaunch interview answering questions about his inspiration to become an astronaut and his career path. He gives details on the mission's goal (which is to service the Hubble Space Telescope (HST)), his role during the mission, the five scheduled spacewalks, the Columbia Orbiter's recent upgrades, and what he sees as the challenges of the mission. Grunsfeld describes how his experience on the STS-103 mission, a previous HST servicing mission, has helped prepare him for the STS-109 mission. The interview ends with Grunsfeld explaining why the servicing of the Reaction Wheel Assembly, a task added late in his training, is so important.