Hubble Space Telescope
NASA's long-serving space telescope, launched in 1990.
The Hubble Space Telescope is a NASA space telescope launched into low Earth orbit in 1990 on STS-31, with contributions from the European Space Agency. It is named after Edwin Hubble and is one of NASA's Great Observatories.
Its 2.4 m mirror and five main instruments observe in ultraviolet, visible and near-infrared light. Above the atmosphere it takes very sharp images, and its work has led to breakthroughs such as measuring the expansion rate of the universe. Its main mirror turned out to have been ground incorrectly.
Quick Facts
- Type
- Space telescope
- Launched
- 1990 (STS-31)
- Mirror
- 2.4 m / 7 ft 10 in
- Operator
- NASA; ESA
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