by Phillip
C.
The acoustic test of the Hubble Space
Telescope (HST) was a critical and challenging effort. The acoustic chamber was
located in a 175-foot high-bay facility. The satellite was eased into the
facility and lifted into a vertical position with a set of huge cranes that
were built into the facility. While moving the HST into the chamber very slowly
to control momentum build-up, disaster struck!
Due to the very slow speed, the crane motor
stopped with the billion-dollar satellite hanging 25 feet above the floor. We
quickly determined the cause of the problem, but the fix had to be performed on
the motor 160 feet above the floor. The problem was how to get up there without
risk to the satellite.
As we discussed our options, looking up at the
hanging satellite, I asked the facilities manager if he had a boatswain’s chair
and if the young facilities technician (his name was Dewey) if he was afraid of
heights. “No,” so up went Dewey to the crane platform in the boatswain’s chair
where he installed the fix. After the fix, Dewey, still dangling 160 feet above
the floor, asked if he could come down. I said “No,” not until the satellite
was safely in the chamber. So there hung Dewey for 20 minutes, 160 feet above
the floor.
Dewey’s skill and courage was one of the
selfless actions that made the success of the Hubble Space Telescope a crowning
achievement of Lockheed Martin.
