Video: The Hubble Space Telescope at 25
Astronauts Steven L. Smith and John M. Grunsfeld are photographed during an extravehicular activity (EVA) during the December 1999 Hubble servicing mission of STS-103, flown by Discovery. NASA
NASA celebrates one of its greatest achievements.
The Hubble telescope has been fundamental in our understanding of the universe. Its launch and the subsequent photographs it has given us are a massive success for both NASA and the U.S. government.
(Astronomers using the Hubble Space Telescope have assembled a comprehensive picture of the evolving universe – among the most colorful deep space images ever captured by the telescope. Image via NASA)
The telescope launched April 24, 1990, hitching a ride with the space shuttle Discovery. Hubble's tenure as our eye on the universe hasn't been without trouble, however. Shortly after the telescope launched, NASA discovered a defect in one of the mirrors. So in 1993, astronauts were sent on a mission to repair the telescope, and there have been numerous repair trips since.
"I grew up and telescopes put into orbit wouldn't last more than three, at most five years, so they never had a chance to grow on you to become part of your soul of expectation for the next astronomical discovery," astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson said. "With Hubble, the fact -- I think the fact it was repairable meant it could just stay with you for decades, now 25 years."
Now, in honor of the telescope's 25th anniversary, NASA has produced a documentary telling its story, featuring interviews with scientists, engineers and astronauts. The agency is also hosting events around the country to celebrate Hubble.
Check out the documentary below:
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