The Hubble Space Telescope (HST) is a soace Telescope that was launched into low Earth orbit in 1990 and remains in operation.
Although not the first space telescope, Hubble is one of the largest and most versatile and is well known as both a vital research tool and a public relations boon for astronomy
The HST is named after the astronomer Edwin Hubble and is one of NASA's Great Observatories, along with -
- Compton Gamma Ray Observatory
- Chandra X-Ray Observatory
- Spitzer Space Telescope
The Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) selects Hubble's targets and processes the resulting data, while the Goddard Space Flight Center controls the spacecraft
With a 2.4-meter (7.9 ft) mirror, Hubble's four main instruments observe in the ultraviolet,visible and near infrared regions of the electromagnetic spectrum
Hubble is the only telescope designed to be serviced in space by astronauts
After launch by Space Shuttle Discovery in 1990, five subsequent Space Shuttle missions repaired, upgraded, and replaced systems on the telescope, including all five of the main instruments
The telescope is operating as of 2019, and could last until 2030–2040
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