Overview
The Hubble Space Telescope (HST) was launched on 24 April 1990 aboard Space Shuttle Discovery (STS-31). Orbiting above the distortion of Earth's atmosphere at ~540 km altitude in low Earth orbit, Hubble has captured some of the most detailed visible-light images ever taken of the distant universe — from the Hubble Deep Fields to the Pillars of Creation.
Key Facts
| NORAD ID | 20580 |
| Launch | 24 April 1990 (STS-31) |
| Orbit | ~540 km, 28.5° inclination, ~96 min period |
| Mirror Diameter | 2.4 m (primary mirror) |
| Length | 13.2 m |
| Servicing Missions | 5 (last: STS-125 in May 2009) |
| Instruments | WFC3, COS, ACS, STIS, FGS |
| Publications | 19,000+ scientific papers |
Current Status
As of early 2026, Hubble continues science operations, though operating with reduced gyroscopes. NASA switched to single-gyroscope mode in 2024 to extend its operational life. Without a servicing mission (the Space Shuttle has been retired), Hubble will gradually lose altitude to atmospheric drag and eventually re-enter. NASA has explored using commercial vehicles for a reboost mission. Hubble is expected to remain operational into the late 2020s or early 2030s.
Legacy
Hubble has fundamentally transformed astronomy: measuring the expansion rate of the universe (Hubble constant), providing evidence for dark energy, imaging protoplanetary disks around young stars, and observing galaxies from billions of years ago. It remains the most productive space telescope in history by publication count, now complemented by the James Webb Space Telescope at L2.