For three decades, this iconic space telescope has explored the cosmos – shining a light on our planetary neighbours, discovering alien worlds, capturing the birth, life and death of stars, and delving into the darkest depths of the Universe. This special edition from BBC Sky at Night Magazine reveals Hubble’s story – from initial concept to the orbital repair that fixed its mirror and the risky maintenance missions. With spectacular images, you’ll discover the science that it has enabled, and gain an insight into the powerful legacy that Hubble has given to people all over the world.
Hubble 30 Years of Discovery from BBC Sky at Night Magazine
Welcome
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THE SPACECRAFT
Planning a telescope in SPACE • The preparation for the Hubble Space Telescope is a story that stretches back through the 20th century
Who was Edwin Hubble?
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A troubled childhood • Construction of the telescope was an international undertaking of great complexity. Budget pressure was felt all through this phase and would come home to roost with a critical flaw
Anatomy of a space telescope • At 13 metres in length and as heavy as two full-grown elephants, the Hubble Space Telescope is a complex machine that houses multiple systems
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A precision LIFT-OFF • For Hubble’s launch, its orbital path was carefully chosen to account for Earth’s gravitational pull and maintenance missions. But nerves of steel were needed to get there and back safely
The impact of the Challenger disaster • The tragic loss of Space Shuttle Challenger meant Hubble’s launch plans were put on hold
Interview Dr. Kathy Sullivan • A veteran of three Space Shuttle missions and the first American woman to walk in space, Kathryn D. Sullivan left NASA in 1993 and went on to become Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Here she remembers her part in the 1990 mission that launched Hubble
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From white knight to white elephant • Almost straight after deployment, Hubble’s optics were found to be flawed. But the telescope eventually recovered its reputation
The fallout from Hubble • For NASA, the discovery of Hubble’s flawed optics was a bitter blow after the Challenger disaster and another knock to its operational reputation
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Bringing Hubble back to life • The repair mission to fix Hubble’s optics was hugely challenging, but its success restored NASA’s reputation
Never a straightforward mission • Upgrading Hubble called for some of the most complex spacewalks ever planned. Inevitably, these missions rarely went according to schedule
Interview Dr. Story Musgrave • A veteran of the US Marine Corps with academic degrees in six subjects, from maths to medicine, F. Story Musgrave became NASA’s preeminent authority on spacewalks. One of only a handful of astronauts to complete six space missions, he was payload commander on mission STS-61
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A telescope for a new millennium • Hubble’s in-built maintainability proved its saving grace, keeping it up to date with emerging technology
Interview Dr. Mike Massimino • Selected by NASA for the astronaut training programme in 1996, Michael J. Massimino’s academic specialism focused on human-machine systems. He took part in the fourth and the final Hubble servicing mission, before leaving NASA in 2014 to continue his academic research and teach at Columbia University
Timeline of a SPACE TELESCOPE • Key dates in Hubble’s mission, from initial concept through to regular maintenance and the planned end of its life
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THE SCIENCE
A new perspective on THE PLANETS • For 30 years, Hubble has revealed secrets about neighbouring worlds, improving the science done by other planetary...