Hubble Trivia: 5) What Does Hubble Use to Turn Itself and Point at a Target?

The video tutorial explains how spacecrafts use attitude control mechanisms, specifically reaction wheels, to adjust their orientation in space. Reaction wheels, which are about 2 feet wide, allow the telescope to rotate in the opposite direction when spun. This enables the telescope to move across the sky and focus on different targets. Typically, the telescope will lock onto a target for about two orbits, with each orbit lasting approximately 95 to 97 minutes.

What is the primary method used to control the attitude of a space telescope?

• Using thrusters

• Using reaction wheels

• Using solar sails

• Using gyroscopes

How many reaction wheels are typically used in the described telescope?

• Two

• Five

• Three

• Four

What happens when a reaction wheel is spun in one direction?

• The telescope moves in the same direction

• The telescope rotates in the opposite direction

• The telescope remains stationary

• The telescope moves randomly

How long does each orbit of the telescope typically last?

• 80 to 90 minutes

• 95 to 97 minutes

• 60 to 70 minutes

• 100 to 110 minutes

For how many orbits does the telescope usually stay at a target?

• 1 orbit

• 2 orbits

• 4 orbits

• 3 orbits