This week, NASA’s remarkable Hubble Space Telescope sails past two decades of orbiting the Earth – a celestial celebration of its ability to see more, see farther and see deeper into our surrounding universe.
Hubble was deployed into Earth orbit by the crew of space shuttle Discovery on April 25, 1990.
Fast forward to today – 20 years later.
According to NASA, Hubble has made approximately 800,000 observations and snapped about 500,000 images of more than 25,000 celestial objects during its lifetime. Furthermore, the spaceborne telescope has helped resolve the age of the universe and scope out the existence of dark energy, among an array of other eye-openers.
The Hubble Space Telescope has become an icon of astronomical exploration. But that lofty label did not come easily. When the observatory was used to soak in its first views, the telescope’s potential became more a focal point of distress and worry. A small, but fundamental flaw in Hubble’s mirror distorted its ability to produce crystal-clear images. The orbiting observatory was found by scientists to be nearsighted.
Human resolve
Thanks to human dexterity, staying power and resolve, Hubble’s woes were fixed – allowing it to become a powerful 21st century machine of breakthrough and breathtaking discovery.
House calls to Hubble by a string of shuttle crews have changed out its scientific instruments, as well as repaired or replaced electronic gear and other life-limiting items. The ability of spacewalking astronauts to add the “human touch” to Hubble signals a melding of human spaceflight with the space sciences.
Indeed, due to human ingenuity and astronaut intervention, the Hubble Space Telescope has been improved far beyond its original design capabilities. Contrasted with ground-based telescopes, Hubble has won hands down in a sharp-shooting staring contest with the immensity of the cosmos.
“Hubble has enabled our minds and spirits to travel billions of light-years to bring the universe up close and personal,” explains Edward Weiler, NASA’s Associate Administrator for the Science Mission Directorate. “A large part of Hubble’s success and longevity is due to worldwide public support for the telescope. Hubble is an instantly recognized scientific icon, and its positive impact on the world will continue for decades.”
Happy anniversary, Hubble!