Last updated on December 20, 2020 by Roger Kaufman
Gigantic images from the Hubble Space Telescope
The Hubble Space Telescope (HST for short) is a space telescope for visible light, ultraviolet and infrared radiation that orbits the Earth once at an altitude of 590 kilometers within 97 minutes. The telescope was the result of a collaboration between NASA and ESA and was named after the US astronomer Edwin Hubble.
The HST was launched on Space Shuttle mission STS-1990 in 31 and was released from Discovery's cargo hold the next day. The Hubble Space Telescope was the first of four space telescopes planned by NASA as part of the Great Observatory Program.
The other three are Compton Gamma Ray Observatory, Chandra X-Ray Observatory and Spitzer Space Telescope.
The image quality of the Hubble Space Telescope was limited in its first years of operation by a manufacturing defect in the primary mirror, which was successfully corrected in 1993 using the COSTAR mirror system.
Since then, with the help of the HST, images have been taken that often have a strong impact on the public and that lead to results of great scientific importance.
The initial operational difficulties and the time-related wear and tear on the electronic devices meant that five maintenance missions to the space telescope have already been undertaken and successfully carried out.
In 2013, the James Webb Space Telescope is scheduled to succeed the Hubble Space Telescope. It is a joint project between NASA, ESA and the Canadian Space Agency.
It started 25 years ago NASA one of their most ambitious projects: the Hubble Space Telescope. Thanks to this “window to space” we know today more than ever about the formation of stars and planets, about phenomena such as dark matter and black holes, and the expansion of the universe.
In addition, the telescope's breathtaking images delight millions of people worldwide. The N24 documentary tells the fascinating story of Hubble and its inventors.
Hubble: View into Infinity (in HD)
Hubble Space Telescope: The most beautiful images from 22 years
Video and description via: Knowledge Magazine
The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has been orbiting our planet since 1990 and sending fascinating images from space to Earth - over a million observations in 22 years! It is stationed at an altitude of 575 kilometers and was last repaired and updated in 2009. The 54th edition of Hubblecast presents the most beautiful images from two decades - one image from each year.
26 of the best images captured by the Hubble Space Telescope
