--- title: "How old is Hubble Telescope?" description: "How old is Hubble Telescope?" author: "Ashutosh Patel" published: 2023-04-28 updated: 2023-04-29 canonical: https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/99590/how-old-is-hubble-telescope category: "space technology" tags: ["space science"] reading_time: 3 minutes --- # How old is Hubble Telescope? ## Answers ### Answer by Mark John The Hubble Space Telescope (HST) is a marvel of modern astronomy, orbiting high above the Earth's atmosphere since its launch on April 24, 1990. Developed by NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA), the Hubble is named after Edwin Hubble, an American astronomer who discovered the expansion of the universe. The HST has revolutionized [our understanding](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/114814/how-do-nasa-s-space-missions-contribute-to-our-understanding-of-earth-s-climate) of the universe, producing some of the most stunning and [detailed images](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/102267/how-are-space-missions-like-cassini-able-to-take-detailed-images-of-distant-planets-and-moons) of distant galaxies, nebulae, and other astronomical objects. Its observations have helped astronomers answer some of the most [fundamental questions](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/115036/if-ghosts-are-real-what-fundamental-questions-would-their-existence-raise-about-consciousness) about the cosmos, such as the age of the universe, the nature of dark matter, and the formation of galaxies. The idea for a space-based [telescope](https://www.mindstick.com/news/2964/nasa-notifies-a-mysterious-glitch-in-the-james-webb-space-telescope) can be traced back to the 1940s when Lyman Spitzer, an American astrophysicist, proposed the idea of a large telescope that could be placed in orbit around the Earth. NASA eventually accepted the idea in the **1960s**, and work began on the HST in the **1970s**. ![How old is Hubble Telescope?](https://answers.mindstick.com/questionanswer/a341c7f1-52b1-4fdf-99ec-d3bb5affe0a0/images/920b2b4e-bf1b-47df-8a18-12c1a9ba808e.jpeg) The HST was launched on board the space shuttle Discovery on **April 24, 1990**, and was deployed into orbit the next day. However, shortly after its deployment, it became clear that there was a serious problem with the telescope's primary mirror. The mirror had been ground to the wrong shape, resulting in severe image distortion. Despite this setback, NASA and ESA worked tirelessly to find a [solution to the problem](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/41053/explain-why-the-missouri-compromise-line-did-not-provide-a-solution-to-the-problem-of-california-s-statehood). In December 1993, a team of astronauts aboard the space shuttle **Endeavour** performed a series of [spacewalks](https://yourviews.mindstick.com/view/84331/what-is-advanced-materials-science-and-technology) to install corrective **optics** on the HST. The new optics corrected the distortion in the telescope's images and allowed it to operate at its full potential. Since then, the **HST** has undergone several servicing missions, during which new instruments and equipment have been installed to keep the telescope up to date with the latest [technological advancements](https://yourviews.mindstick.com/view/85451/explore-latest-technological-advancements-in-the-digital-economy). The last servicing mission was performed in May 2009, after which it was decided that the HST would not be serviced again. Despite its age, the HST remains one of the most powerful telescopes ever built, and its impact on astronomy cannot be overstated. Its observations have led to some of the most significant [discoveries](https://yourviews.mindstick.com/view/84878/the-science-behind-the-indian-temples-2023-view) in astrophysics in recent years, including the measurement of the universe's expansion rate, the detection of the first exoplanets, and the discovery of dark energy. As of 2023, the HST has operated for over **33** years, far exceeding its original mission lifespan of 15 years. However, the telescope's days are numbered and are expected to be decommissioned in the coming years. **NASA and ESA** are currently developing the Hubble's successor, the [James Webb Space Telescope](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/99595/how-is-james-webb-space-telescope-jwst-protecting-its-open-mirror-from-space-debris-damage), which is set to launch in 2021 and will continue the legacy of the HST in [exploring the mysteries](https://yourviews.mindstick.com/story/4727/exploring-the-mysteries-of-the-ajanta-caves) of the universe. --- Original Source: https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/99590/how-old-is-hubble-telescope Copyright © MindStick Software Pvt. Ltd. This Markdown version is provided for developers, AI systems, and offline reading.