If you’ve ever looked at a stunning picture of a distant nebula or a far-off galaxy, you probably have one incredible machine to thank. When was the Hubble Space Telescope made? The journey to its creation is a fascinating story of ambition, engineering, and perseverance that spans decades. This article walks you through its entire history, from the first ideas to its final servicing mission.
You’ll learn about the key dates, the challenges faced, and the incredible legacy it left behind. We’ll break it all down into simple sections so you can easily understand how this window to the universe was built.
When Was The Hubble Space Telescope Made
Pinpointing a single “made” date for Hubble is tricky. It’s more accurate to think of a long period of development, construction, and finally, launch. The idea was born in the 1940s, serious planning started in the 1970s, and the telescope was finally assembled and ready for launch in the late 1980s. It launched on April 24, 1990. But even then, its story was just beginning.
The Early Vision: Before Hubble Was a Reality
The concept of a space telescope isn’t as new as you might think. Scientist Lyman Spitzer first proposed the idea in 1946, over a decade before NASA even existed. He argued that a telescope in space, above Earth’s blurring atmosphere, could see the cosmos with unprecedented clarity.
For years, this remained just a brilliant idea. The technology to build and launch such a complex instrument simply didn’t exist yet. It took the dawn of the space age for the dream to start becoming a plan.
Key Milestones in the Planning Phase
- 1962: A National Academy of Sciences report recommends developing a space telescope.
- 1965: Spitzer is appointed head of a committee to define the scientific goals for a “Large Space Telescope.”
- 1969: The NAS gives the project a high priority, calling it a “major asset” for astronomy.
- 1974: A group of astronomers begins formal work on the telescope’s design and technology.
The 1970s: Getting the Green Light and Starting Work
This decade is when the real work began. NASA started seeking funding from the U.S. Congress, which was a huge hurdle. The project was extremely expensive, and many lawmakers weren’t convinced. After several years of lobbying by scientists, Congress finally approved partial funding in 1977.
This allowed NASA to officially start the project. They established the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) to manage the science operations. They also partnered with the European Space Agency (ESA), which agreed to provide solar panels and instruments in exchange for observation time for European astronomers.
Who Built the Hubble Space Telescope?
It was a massive team effort. NASA managed the overall project. The main contractor for building the telescope’s structure and optical system was the Lockheed Missiles and Space Company (now Lockheed Martin). The Perkin-Elmer Corporation (later part of Hughes and then Raytheon) was contracted to build the Optical Telescope Assembly, which included the critical primary mirror.
- NASA: Overall project management and final assembly.
- Lockheed: Spacecraft systems, support systems, and final integration.
- Perkin-Elmer: Precision optics and mirror polishing.
- European Space Agency: Solar arrays and the Faint Object Camera.
The 1980s: Construction, Delays, and the Road to Launch
This is the decade where Hubble was physically put together. The construction of the various components happened at facilities across the United States and Europe. The process was painstakingly slow and faced numerous technical delays and budget overruns.
A major setback was the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster in 1986. The shuttle fleet was grounded, and Hubble, which was designed to be launched and serviced by the shuttle, had its launch postponed for several years. This delay, while tragic, allowed engineers more time for testing.
Finally, by late 1989, the complete Hubble Space Telescope was delivered to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. It was carefully packed into the payload bay of the Space Shuttle Discovery for its historic journey.
Launch Day: April 24, 1990
After decades of work, the Hubble Space Telescope was finally on its way. At 8:33 AM EDT, Space Shuttle Discovery lifted off from Launch Pad 39B. The next day, the crew used the shuttle’s robotic arm to deploy Hubble into its orbit about 340 miles above Earth.
The celebration was short-lived. Within weeks, scientists discovered a catastrophic flaw: the primary mirror had been ground to the wrong shape, a mistake called spherical aberration. This meant the images it sent back were blurry. It seemed like the entire project was a failure.
The 1990s and Beyond: Fixing and Upgrading Hubble
So, was Hubble a lost cause? Absolutely not. Engineers and scientists had designed Hubble to be serviced by astronauts. A daring repair mission was planned. In December 1993, the crew of Space Shuttle Endeavour installed a set of corrective optics (like glasses for Hubble) and replaced other instruments.
The mission was a complete success. Hubble’s vision was fixed, and it began sending back the crystal-clear images we know today. This began a new era of discovery.
The Servicing Missions That Extended Hubble’s Life
Hubble was serviced five times total. Each mission replaced aging parts, added new, more powerful instruments, and performed critical repairs. This is why it has lasted so long.
- Servicing Mission 1 (1993): Installed corrective optics (COSTAR) and a new camera (WFPC2).
- Servicing Mission 2 (1997): Added two new spectrographs and an infrared camera.
- Servicing Mission 3A (1999): Replaced gyroscopes and other critical systems.
- Servicing Mission 3B (2002): Installed the Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) and new solar arrays.
- Servicing Mission 4 (2009): The final shuttle mission, which installed two brand-new instruments and repaired others, leaving Hubble at the peak of its powers.
Hubble’s Key Specifications and Instruments
What exactly was made? Here’s a quick look at the telescope itself.
- Length: 43.5 feet (13.2 meters)
- Weight: About 24,500 pounds (11,110 kilograms)
- Primary Mirror Diameter: 7.9 feet (2.4 meters)
- Orbit: Approximately 340 miles (547 kilometers) above Earth
- Power Source: Two solar panels
Over its life, Hubble has hosted many instruments. Each one was designed to capture different types of light or data. The most important ones include the Wide Field and Planetary Camera (WFPC2), the Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS), and the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph (COS).
The Legacy and Impact of Hubble
Hubble’s contributions to science are almost to many to list. It helped pin down the age of the universe, confirmed the existence of supermassive black holes in galaxy centers, and provided deep field images showing thousands of galaxies in a tiny patch of sky.
Perhaps just as important, it brought the universe to the public. Its breathtaking images are everywhere, inspiring countless people to learn more about astronomy. It showed us the beauty and violence of the cosmos in a way nothing else could.
When Was Hubble’s Mission Supposed to End?
Originally, Hubble had a planned mission lifespan of 15 years. Thanks to the servicing missions, it operated for over 30. NASA now expects it to remain operational through the late 2020s or beyond. Its successor, the James Webb Space Telescope, now operates alongside it, viewing the universe in infrared light.
Hubble’s eventual decommissioning will be a slow process. As its orbit decays over time, NASA plans to guide it to a safe re-entry over an ocean area when the time comes, ensuring no danger to people on the ground.
Common Questions About Hubble’s Creation
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about when and how Hubble was made.
How long did it take to build the Hubble telescope?
From the official start of construction in the late 1970s to its launch in 1990, it took roughly 12-15 years of active building and testing. If you count from the first serious design studies in the early 1970s, the process took nearly two decades.
Why was the Hubble telescope launch delayed?
The main delay was caused by the Space Shuttle Challenger accident in 1986. The entire shuttle fleet was grounded for almost three years. Hubble, dependent on the shuttle, had to wait. Earlier delays were due to technical challenges and budget issues during construction.
How much did it cost to make Hubble?
The original construction cost was about $1.5 billion (in 1977 dollars). Adjusted for inflation, that’s roughly $8 billion today. The total cost, including all servicing missions and operations over its lifetime, is estimated to be over $16 billion—a bargain for the science it produced.
Where is the Hubble telescope now?
Hubble is in a low-Earth orbit, traveling at about 17,000 miles per hour. It completes an orbit around Earth roughly every 95 minutes. You can actually see where it is in real-time using NASA’s “Spot the Station” website, as it is often visible from the ground as a bright star moving across the sky.
Can Hubble take pictures of Earth?
Technically yes, but it almost never does. It’s not designed for it. Pointing it at Earth would be very difficult and risky, and the images wouldn’t be as good as those from satellites built specifically for Earth observation. Its mission is to look outward, not downward.
What will happen to Hubble when it stops working?
NASA will use the last of its fuel or a special spacecraft to guide it through a controlled re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere. Most of it will burn up, and any remaining pieces will fall safely into a remote area of the ocean. This plan ensures it doesn’t become dangerous space debris.
Final Thoughts on Hubble’s Creation
So, when was the Hubble Space Telescope made? It was a product of the mid-to-late 20th century, born from a 1940s idea, funded in the 1970s, assembled in the 1980s, and launched in 1990. But its story didn’t end there. The servicing missions of the 1990s and 2000s were essentially remaking and upgrading it, extending its life far beyond expectations.
Hubble stands as a testament to human curiosity and problem-solving. It showed that even a major setback like a flawed mirror could be overcome with ingenuity and courage. The images and data it provided have fundamentally changed our understanding of the universe we live in, and its influence will be felt for generations to come.