Hubble Space Telescope has been assisting astronomers to unravel the secrets of the universe in breathtaking detail since 1990. There were many other telescopes that were launched into space before this, but Hubble was extremely versatile and the largest till date. It has helped astronomers to gather publicity.
Hubble is part of NASA’s great observatories of which the others are the Chandra X-Ray observatory, Spitzer Space Telescope and Compton Gamma Ray. Telescopes in spaces were first as early as in 1923. Hubble was proposed to be launched in 1983 but it was funded in the 70s. Due to some technical difficulties and financial problems it was launched in 1990. It is the one and only space telescope which is modified to be serviced in space only by astronauts.4 servicing missions have been performed since 1993 to 2002. NASA has agreed for one more servicing mission which has been completed in 2009. The space telescope is supposed to function till 2014 after which its successor is due to be launched. Te telescope has been funded by the OAO program thought the NASA program. The telescope was manufactured in multiple space institutions and agencies. Majority of the construction was carried out by Marshall Space Flight Center and the Goddard Space Flight Center.
Hubble is the only telescope that is capable of repair in space by astronauts. There were in total of four servicing mission which were performed in space between 1993 to 2003 and one in 2009. Hubble is expected to work without any problems till 2014. The space craft is expected to replaced by its successor the James Webb Space Telescope.
Hubble has helped in solving quite a few problems and help form new theories for the origination of starts and the universe. It has helped to find out the age of the universe and also to observe multiple supernova.