The Hubble Space Telescope is a space telescope that was launched into low Earth orbit in 1990 and remains in operation. It was not the first space telescope, but it is one of the largest and most versatile, renowned both as a vital research tool and as a public relations boon for astronomy. The telescope completed 30 years of operation in April 2020 and is predicted to last until 2030–2040. Hubble in Earth orbit after deployment. Hubble travels at a speed of 17,500 miles/27,300 kilometers per hour as it orbits Earth. It takes approximately 95 minutes to complete one trip around Earth. Named in honor of the trailblazing astronomer Edwin Hubble, the Hubble Space Telescope is a large, space-based observatory, which has revolutionized astronomy since its launch and deployment by the space shuttle Discovery in 1990. Far above rain clouds, light pollution, and atmospheric distortions, Hubble has a crystal-clear view of the universe. Scientists have used Hubble to observe some of the most distant stars and galaxies yet seen, as well as the planets in our solar system. Hubble’s capabilities have grown immensely in its over 30 years of operation. This is because new, cutting-edge scientific instruments have been added to the telescope over the course of five astronaut servicing missions. By replacing and upgrading aging parts, these servicing missions have greatly extended the telescope’s lifetime. Telescopes have a particular range of light that they can detect. Hubble’s domain extends from the ultraviolet through the visible (which our eyes see) and into the near-infrared. This range has allowed Hubble to deliver stunning images of stars, galaxies, and other astronomical objects that have inspired people around the world and changed our understanding of the universe. Hubble has made more than 1.5 million observations over the course of its lifetime. Over 19,000 peer-reviewed science papers have been published on its discoveries, and every current astronomy textbook includes contributions from the observatory. The telescope has tracked interstellar objects as they soared through our solar system, watched a comet collide with Jupiter, and discovered moons around Pluto. It has found dusty disks and stellar nurseries throughout the Milky Way that may one day become fully fledged planetary systems and studied the atmospheres of planets that orbit other stars. Hubble has peered back into our universe’s distant past, to locations more than 13.4 billion light-years from Earth, capturing galaxies merging, probing the supermassive black holes that lurk in their depths, and helping us better understand the history of the expanding universe. In its over 30 years of operation, Hubble has made observations that have captured humanity’s imaginations and deepened our knowledge of the cosmos. It will continue to do so for years to come.The Hubble Space Telescope was the first astronomical observatory to be placed into orbit around Earth with the ability to record images in wavelengths of light spanning from ultraviolet to near-infrared. Launched on April 24, 1990, aboard the space shuttle Discovery, Hubble is located about 340 miles (547 km) above Earth’s surface, where it completes 15 orbits per day approximately one every 95 minutes. The satellite moves at the speed of about five miles (8 km) per second, fast enough to travel across the United States in about 10 minutes. While it orbits, its primary mirror collects the light from cosmic objects, from the solar system to the distant universe. Hubble is about the size of a school bus, with a mirror that’s much smaller than those of many professional Earth-based observatories, but its position above Earth’s atmosphere gives it a pristine view of the universe and allows it to see wavelengths that are blocked or partially filtered by the atmosphere. Hubble’s resolution is better than the human eye by a factor of around 1,000 good enough to resolve two fireflies separated by about 10 feet from the distance between New York City and Tokyo. Behind Hubble’s captivating images and groundbreaking science is a team of people who control the telescope, ensure its health and safety, and innovate ways to keep it at top performance more than three decades after its launch. This group of engineers, scientists, and operators at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center work together to monitor Hubble as it travels around Earth, point the telescope at cosmic targets, and solve any problems that arise. They perform their work in specialized facilities that provide the tools and equipment needed to operate this great observatory and continue its legacy of success.

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