Orbica
UpcomingTimelineAgenciesRocketsSatellitesTrackIntel
← Satellites

Space Telescope

HST

OperationalSpace TelescopeLEO

The Hubble Space Telescope is a space telescope that was launched into low Earth orbit in 1990 and remains in operation. It was not the first space telescope, but it is one of the largest and most versatile, renowned as a vital research tool and as a public relations boon for astronomy. The Hubble Space Telescope is named after astronomer Edwin Hubble and is one of NASA's Great Observatories. The Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) selects Hubble's targets and processes the resulting data, while the Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) controls the spacecraft.

Read more on Wikipedia →
Loading…

Launch

Launch date
April 24, 1990 at 12:33 PM UTC
Launch site
Cape Canaveral SFS, USA
Launched by
Space Shuttle →
Operator
Lockheed Space Operations Company
Mission
STS-31 (Hubble)
Launch record
View full launch →

Orbit

Orbit regime
LEO
Apoapsis
475 km
Periapsis
472 km
Inclination
28.47°
Orbital period
94.08 min

Spacecraft

Operator
European Space Agency (ESA)/NASA
Manufacturer
European Space Agency/NASA
Users
Government
Launch mass
11,110 kg
Power
2,400 W
Design lifetime
10 years

Identity

COSPAR (Int'l)
1990-037B
NORAD catalog №
20580
Object type
Payload
Owner / operator
United StatesUnited States
Radar cross-section
28.0799 m²
Status
Operational

Related news

I Am Artemis: Elkin Norena
NASA · 5d ago
Q&A: Astronaut Linda Godwin on lessons learned from Artemis
SpaceNews · 2mo ago
I Am Artemis: Erik Richards
NASA · 2mo ago
Eileen Collins on what it takes to become Space Shuttle Commander
SpaceNews · 2mo ago
Astronauts’ Perspectives on NESC Contributions to Mission Safety and Success
NASA · 3mo ago