Launch of the Hubble Space Telescope
Putting a telescope above Earth’s atmosphere promised a clearer view of the universe. Hubble reached orbit in 1990, but a flaw in its mirror turned that promise into a repair challenge.
For astronomers, Earth’s atmosphere is both a protection and an obstacle. Turbulence and weather interfere with observations from the ground. An orbiting telescope could avoid those limitations, but building one required years of funding decisions, engineering work and cooperation between NASA and the European Space Agency.
Hubble’s development took longer than planned. Manufacturing difficulties delayed the observatory, and the Challenger disaster in 1986 grounded the shuttle fleet that would carry it into orbit. The telescope remained on Earth while engineers maintained and upgraded its systems.
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Image: NASA