This is an artist's concept of the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). Hubble is the product of a partnership between NASA, the European Space Agency, contractors, and the international community of astronomers. It is named after Edwin P. Hubble, an American astronomer who discovered the expanding nature of the universe and was the first to realize the true nature of galaxies.
The purpose of Hubble, the most complex and sensitive optical telescope ever made, is to study the cosmos from a low Earth orbit. By placing the telescope in space, astronomers are able to collect data that is free of Earth's atmosphere. Hubble detects objects 25 times fainter than the dimmest objects seen from Earth and provides astronomers with an observable universe 250 times larger than is visible from ground-based telescopes, extending our view more than 13 billion light-years away. Hubble views galaxies, stars, planets, comets, planet formation in other solar systems, and even unusual phenomena such as quasars, with 10 times the clarity of ground-based telescopes.
The major elements of Hubble are the Optical Telescope Assembly (OTA), the Support System Module (SSM), and the Scientific Instruments (SI). Hubble is approximately the size of a railroad car, with two cylinders joined together and wrapped in a silvery reflective heat shield blanket. Wing-like solar arrays extend horizontally from each side of these cylinders, and dish-shaped anternas extend above and below the body of the telescope. Hubble was deployed from the Space Shuttle Discovery (STS-31 mission) into Earth orbit in April 1990.
The Marshall Space Flight Center was responsible for the design, development, and construction of the observatory. The Perkin-Elmer Corporation in Danbury, Connecticut, developed the optical system and guidance sensors. The Lockheed Missile and Space Company of Sunnyvale, California, produced the protective outer shroud and spacecraft systems, and assembled and tested the finished telescope.
Date Created: 1986-01-01
Tags: Space Telescope NASA Hubble Space Telescope Hubble
This image illustrates the overall Hubble Space Telescope (HST) configuration. Hubble is the product of a partnership between NASA, the European Space Agency, contractors, and the international community of astronomers. It is named after Edwin P. Hubble, an American astronomer who discovered the expanding nature of the universe and was the first to realize the true nature of galaxies.
The purpose of Hubble, the most complex and sensitive optical telescope ever made, is to study the cosmos from a low Earth orbit. By placing the telescope in space, astronomers are able to collect data that is free of Earth's atmosphere. Hubble detects objects 25 times fainter than the dimmest objects seen from Earth and provides astronomers with an observable universe 250 times larger than is visible from ground-based telescopes, extending our view more than 13 billion light-years away. Hubble views galaxies, stars, planets, comets, planet formation in other solar systems, and even unusual phenomena such as quasars, with 10 times the clarity of ground-based telescopes.
The major elements of Hubble are the Optical Telescope Assembly (OTA), the Support System Module (SSM), and the Scientific Instruments (SI). Hubble is approximately the size of a railroad car, with two cylinders joined together and wrapped in a silvery reflective heat shield blanket. Wing-like solar arrays extend horizontally from each side of these cylinders, and dish-shaped anternas extend above and below the body of the telescope. Hubble was deployed from the Space Shuttle Discovery (STS-31 mission) into Earth orbit in April 1990.
The Marshall Space Flight Center was responsible for the design, development, and construction of the observatory. The Perkin-Elmer Corporation in Danbury, Connecticut, developed the optical system and guidance sensors. The Lockheed Missile and Space Company of Sunnyvale, California, produced the protective outer shroud and spacecraft systems, and assembled and tested the finished telescope.
Date Created: 1985-04-01
Tags: Hubble Hubble Space Telescope Space Telescope Space Telescope NASA
This illustration depicts the design features of the Hubble Space Telescope's Support Systems Module (SSM). The SSM is one of the three major elements of Hubble and encloses the other two elements, the Optical Telescope Assembly (OTA) and the Scientific Instruments (SI).
The purpose of Hubble, the most complex and sensitive optical telescope ever made, is to study the cosmos from a low Earth orbit. By placing the telescope in space, astronomers are able to collect data that is free of Earth's atmosphere. Hubble detects objects 25 times fainter than the dimmest objects seen from Earth and provides astronomers with an observable universe 250 times larger than is visible from ground-based telescopes, extending our view more than 13 billion light-years away. Hubble views galaxies, stars, planets, comets, planet formation in other solar systems, and even unusual phenomena such as quasars, with 10 times the clarity of ground-based telescopes.
The spacecraft is 42.5 feet (13 meters) long and weighs 25,000 pounds (11,600 kilograms). Two communication antennas, two solar array panels that collect energy for Hubble, and storage bays for electronic gear are on the outside. Hubble was deployed from the Space Shuttle Discovery (STS-31 mission) into Earth orbit in April 1990.
The Marshall Space Flight Center was responsible for the design, development, and construction of the observatory. The Perkin-Elmer Corporation in Danbury, Connecticut, developed the optical system and guidance sensors. The Lockheed Missile and Space Company of Sunnyvale, California, produced the protective outer shroud and spacecraft systems, and assembled and tested the finished telescope.
Date Created: 1980-10-01
Tags: Space Telescope NASA Hubble Space Telescope Hubble support systems
This illustration shows the Hubble Space Telescope's major configuration elements. The spacecraft has three interacting systems: the Support System Module (SSM), an outer structure that houses the other systems and provides services such as power, communication, and control; the Optical Telescope Assembly (OTA), which collects and concentrates the incoming light in the focal plane for use by the Scientific Instruments (SI); and five SIs. The SI Control and Data Handling (CDH) unit controls the five SIs, four that are housed in an aft section focal plane structure and one that is placed along the circumference of the spacecraft.
The purpose of Hubble, the most complex and sensitive optical telescope ever made, is to study the cosmos from a low Earth orbit. By placing the telescope in space, astronomers are able to collect data that is free of Earth's atmosphere. Hubble detects objects 25 times fainter than the dimmest objects seen from Earth and provides astronomers with an observable universe 250 times larger than is visible from ground-based telescopes, extending our view more than 13 billion light-years away. Hubble views galaxies, stars, planets, comets, planet formation in other solar systems, and even unusual phenomena such as quasars, with 10 times the clarity of ground-based telescopes.
The Marshall Space Flight Center was responsible for the design, development, and construction of the observatory. The Perkin-Elmer Corporation in Danbury, Connecticut, developed the optical system and guidance sensors. The Lockheed Missile and Space Company of Sunnyvale, California, produced the protective outer shroud and spacecraft systems, and assembled and tested the finished telescope.
Date Created: 1980-01-01
Tags: Hubble Hubble Space Telescope configuration NASA space telescope
This image illustrates the Hubble Space Telescope's Optical Telescope Assembly (OTA). One of the spacecraft's three major elements, the OTA consists of two mirrors (a primary mirror and a secondary mirror), support trusses, and the focal plane structure.
The mirrors collect and focus light from selected celestial objects and are housed near the center of the telescope. The primary mirror captures light from objects in space and focuses it toward the secondary mirror. The secondary mirror redirects the light to a focal plane where the scientific instruments are located. The primary mirror is 94.5 inches (2.4 meters) in diameter, and the secondary mirror is 12.2 inches (0.3 meter) in diameter.
The purpose of Hubble, the most complex and sensitive optical telescope ever made, is to study the cosmos from a low Earth orbit. By placing the telescope in space, astronomers are able to collect data that is free of Earth's atmosphere. Hubble detects objects 25 times fainter than the dimmest objects seen from Earth and provides astronomers with an observable universe 250 times larger than is visible from ground-based telescopes, extending our view more than 13 billion light-years away. Hubble views galaxies, stars, planets, comets, planet formation in other solar systems, and even unusual phenomena such as quasars, with 10 times the clarity of ground-based telescopes.
The spacecraft is 42.5 feet (13 meters) long and weighs 25,000 pounds (11,600 kilograms). Hubble was deployed from the Space Shuttle Discovery (STS-31 mission) into Earth orbit in April 1990.
The Marshall Space Flight Center was responsible for the design, development, and construction of the observatory. The Perkin-Elmer Corporation in Danbury, Connecticut, developed the optical system and guidance sensors. The Lockheed Missile and Space Company of Sunnyvale, California, produced the protective outer shroud and spacecraft systems, and assembled and tested the finished telescope.
Date Created: 1986-01-01
Tags: Hubble Space Telescope Hubble Telescope Optical Space Telescope NASA Optical Telescope Assembly