On the History of the Hubble Space Telescope

On the History of the Hubble Space Telescope

The Hubble Space Telescope, named after the renowned astronomer Edwin Hubble, is a telescope that was launched into orbit in 1990 and has been providing us with stunning images of the universe ever since.

The idea for a space telescope dates back to the 1940s, when scientists first proposed the concept of a telescope that could be placed in orbit above the Earth's atmosphere. This would allow for clearer and more detailed images of the universe, as the Earth's atmosphere can cause distortion and interference in images taken from ground-based telescopes.

In the 1970s, NASA began working on the development of the Hubble Space Telescope. The telescope was constructed by the Marshall Space Flight Center and the Goddard Space Flight Center, and was launched into orbit on April 24, 1990, aboard the space shuttle Discovery.

One of the most significant challenges faced during the construction of the Hubble telescope was the need for a mirror that would be both large and incredibly precise. The primary mirror of the telescope is 2.4 meters (8 feet) in diameter, and the accuracy of its shape had to be within 1/50th the thickness of a human hair.

Despite initial problems with the telescope's primary mirror, which caused blurred images, a servicing mission was conducted in 1993 to fix the problem and install new instruments. Since then, the telescope has been providing us with some of the most stunning images of the universe we have ever seen.

The Hubble telescope has been responsible for a number of groundbreaking discoveries in astronomy, including the observation of distant galaxies and the measurement of the rate of expansion of the universe. It has also been used to study the formation of stars and the structure of galaxies, and has provided us with a deeper understanding of the universe and our place in it.

Today, the Hubble Space Telescope continues to operate, and its mission has been extended several times. It continues to provide us with new and exciting discoveries, and its images continue to inspire and amaze. The telescope has truly changed our understanding of the cosmos.

 

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