Space telescope hubble

The Hubble Space Telescope, launched in 1990, revolutionized astronomy with deep universe images.

About this subject

The Hubble Space Telescope (HST) is an orbital observatory launched on April 24, 1990, aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery. A collaborative project between NASA and ESA, it orbits Earth at an altitude of about 547 km, capturing visible, ultraviolet, and near-infrared light without atmospheric distortion. Construction began in the 1970s, but a flaw in the primary mirror after launch nearly compromised the mission. In 1993, the first servicing mission installed COSTAR, correcting the spherical aberration and enabling sharp images that transformed our understanding of the cosmos.

Among its most famous contributions are the Hubble Deep Fields, which revealed thousands of galaxies in seemingly empty patches of sky, estimated the universe's age at 13.8 billion years. The telescope also helped measure the cosmic expansion rate (Hubble constant), confirmed the existence of supermassive black holes at galaxy centers, and documented Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9's impact on Jupiter in 1994. Its Wide Field Camera 3, installed in 2009, continues producing iconic images like the Pillars of Creation.

After more than three decades, Hubble faces technical challenges such as gyroscope failures, but it has received five servicing missions. Its successor, the James Webb Space Telescope, launched in 2021, complements its observations in infrared wavelengths. Hubble has conducted over 1.5 million observations, and its data fuel thousands of scientific papers annually, cementing its legacy as one of the most productive scientific instruments in history.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the orbital altitude of the Hubble Space Telescope?

Hubble orbits Earth at approximately 547 kilometers in altitude, with an inclination of 28.5 degrees to the equator. This altitude enables continuous observations with minimal atmospheric interference.

How many servicing missions did Hubble receive?

Five servicing missions were performed between 1993 and 2009, all by space shuttles. They corrected the mirror flaw, replaced instruments, and installed upgrades like the Wide Field Camera 3 and new gyroscopes.

Is Hubble still operational? When will it be decommissioned?

Yes, Hubble remains operational but faces gradual component failures. No decommissioning date is set, but it is expected to continue operating until around the mid-2030s, as long as its systems allow.