Hubble Space Telescope (HST) is the first human space telescope, with a total length of over13m and a mass of over1/ton. It runs in an orbit about 600 kilometers above the ground at the outer edge of the earth's atmosphere. It goes around the earth about every 100 minute. Hubble telescope was launched into orbit by NASA and European Space Agency in 1990. Hubble telescope is named after astronomer Edwin Hubble. It is scheduled to be replaced by the James Webb Space Telescope in 2009. The angular resolution of Hubble telescope is less than 0. 1 sec, and it can acquire 3 to 5 gigabytes of data every day.

Because of its operation in outer space, the images obtained by Hubble telescope are not affected by atmospheric disturbance and refraction, and infrared spectral images that are usually absorbed by the atmosphere can be obtained.

The Hubble data are analyzed and processed by astronomers and scientists from the Space Telescope Institute. The Institute is affiliated to Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, USA.

history

The idea of Hubble Space Telescope can be traced back to 1946. This telescope was designed, built and launched in A.D. 1970, and cost 2 billion dollars. NASA Marshall Space Flight Center is responsible for the design, development and construction of Hubble Space Telescope. NASA Goddard Space Flight Center is responsible for scientific equipment and ground control. Perkin Elmer is in charge of making the lens. Lockheed is responsible for building telescope mirrors.

Ascend to the sky

The telescope was launched with the space shuttle Discovery on April 24th, 1990. It was originally scheduled to take off on 1986, but the launch date was postponed after the explosion of Challenger on 1 month that year.

The first images sent back to Earth disappointed astronomers and many others. Because the thickness of the lens made by Perkin Elmer is wrong, it causes serious spherical aberration and the image is hazy.

Maintenance task (1)

The clear image taken after changing the equipment is much clearer than before. The first task was called STS-6 1, and many new instruments were added in February of 1993 65438+, including:

Replace high-speed photometer (HSP) with COSTAR.

Replace WFPC camera with WFPC2 camera.

Replace the solar collector.

Replace two RSUs, including four gyroscopes.

Change lanes

The mission was announced on 1994 13 10/3, and the first clear images were taken and sent back to earth.