What Is The Hubble Space Telescope?
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The Hubble Space Telescope is a NASA/ESA observatory that has orbited Earth since April 24, 1990. With a 2.4-meter primary mirror, it has made more than 1.7 million observations and produced some of the most iconic images in science. It's named after astronomer Edwin Hubble.
The Hubble Space Telescope is one of the most successful scientific instruments ever built. Launched in 1990, it has been orbiting Earth and taking observations ever since, producing breakthroughs in nearly every area of astronomy. It was named after Edwin Hubble, the astronomer who discovered the universe is expanding. Hubble has operated for over 35 years and counting.
What is Hubble?
A space telescope that has revolutionized astronomy. According to NASA, Hubble is a joint project of NASA and ESA, launched on April 24, 1990 aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery. It orbits Earth at about 340 miles altitude, completing one orbit every 95 minutes. Its 2.4-meter primary mirror collects light from the visible, ultraviolet, and near-infrared parts of the spectrum. The telescope is about the size of a school bus and weighs 24,490 pounds. It's operated by the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore.
Why was it put in space?
To avoid the atmosphere. Earth's atmosphere distorts incoming light, making it impossible for ground-based telescopes to achieve perfectly sharp images. It also blocks many wavelengths of light, including most ultraviolet and large portions of infrared. By orbiting above the atmosphere, Hubble produces images with much finer detail than ground-based telescopes of similar size and can observe wavelengths blocked at the surface. The decision to put a major telescope in space was a gamble at the time but has paid off enormously.
How was it repaired?
Through five Space Shuttle servicing missions. After launch in 1990, astronomers discovered Hubble's primary mirror had been ground to slightly the wrong shape, producing blurry images. NASA designed corrective optics (essentially eyeglasses for Hubble) installed by astronauts in 1993. Four more servicing missions followed in 1997, 1999, 2002, and 2009, replacing and upgrading instruments to keep Hubble at the cutting edge. The 2009 servicing mission was the last; Hubble has operated without further visits ever since.
How long will Hubble keep working?
Likely through the 2030s. After the Space Shuttle program ended in 2011, no further servicing missions are planned. Hubble's orbit is slowly decaying due to atmospheric drag, with a controlled deorbit currently expected sometime in the 2030s. Despite its age, Hubble continues making important discoveries, often working in tandem with the newer James Webb Space Telescope. The two telescopes' overlapping capabilities and complementary wavelength coverage make their joint operations especially powerful.
The Hubble Space Telescope is a NASA/ESA observatory that has orbited Earth since 1990, producing more than 1.7 million observations and some of the most famous images in science. Named after Edwin Hubble, it has been serviced five times by astronauts to keep its instruments cutting-edge. The telescope is expected to continue operating into the 2030s, working alongside the newer James Webb Space Telescope.
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