Hubble Telescope Launched
April 24, 1990 was a special day for NASA. This day was the launch of the Hubble Telescope, named after the scientist Edwin Hubble. An important fact is that this telescope is still in use, constantly gathering images. It has an advantage over telescopes on Earth, too. The Hubble does not have the problem of the atmosphere causing different effects on images taken. It does not have to look through a cloud to see what is beyond. It has some pretty impressive technology too. Its 'eye' is a 27.9 foot lens capable of seeing light years into the universe. Of course, it is not the first telescope in orbit, but it is the largest and most versatile satellite ever built. It is also a boon for the public to learn more about space, and has led to many scientific breakthroughs. Its launch was delayed by budget, equipment failure, and the Challenger Space Shuttle accident. This is the only telescope designed to be able to be worked on in space by astronauts. In the years 1993 and 94, missions to fix the telescope were initiated. It has been upgraded, and old technology taken down. A fifth mission was canceled by the Columbia incident, but the fifth, and final mission was eventually put into action. This telescope is expected to be in service until 2014, and its successor, the James Webb Space Telescope, will not replace it until 2018 or later.