Science Information

The History and Achievements of the Hubble Telescope


The Hubble Telescope is famous worldwide forits amazing images of the universe. Congressin 1977 voted to fund a project to construct theHubble. Completion of the telescope was in 1985.The Hubble was supposed to be launched a yearlater but was delayed because of the 1986 SpaceShuttle Challenger disaster.

The Hubble Space Telescope was launched on April25th, 1990 on the space shuttle. The giant telescopeHubble sent back pictures from space that were outof focus. The giant mirror had a major flaw. It wastoo flat on one edge 1/50th of the width of a singlehuman hair.

The Space Shuttle Endeavor in December 1993captured and corrected the Hubble by adding tothe telescope a camera to correct problems withthe Hubbles mirror. In February 1997 astronautsexchanged some of its instruments and addednew blankets to keep Hubble warm. NASA decidedon Oct. 1997 to extend its operations from 2005to 2010.

Hubble's mission in space is to explore the solarsystem, and measure the age and size of theuniverse. Hubble's giant telescope searches for ourcosmic roots, and charts the evolution of the universe.It also trys to unlock the mysteries of stars, planets,galaxies, and life itself.

Achievements of the Hubble

NASA releases Orion Nebula images from the Hubblein June 1994 that confirms the births of planets aroundnewborn stars in space.

In Nov. 1995 telescope images released by NASA of the"Eagle Nebula" showing where stars are born.

NASA releases the "Deep Field" images in Jan. 1996in which Hubble looks back in time more than 10 billionyears. Revealing at least 1,500 galaxies at various stagesof development.

New images of "Ant Nebula" in Feb. 2001.

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Jeremy Hier is the Business Manager and Webmaster ofBest Telescope GuidesJeremy Hier is a freelance writer and regular contributer He likes to offer his advice and tips to consumers looking to purchase meade telescopes and celestron telescopes


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