30 Years Since the Epic Rescue of the Hubble Space Telescope: A Story of Ingenious Repair and Precise Engineering

Astronauts courageously replaced Hubble’s Wide Field and Planetary Camera with its successor, the WFPC2, ensuring its enhanced functionality (Photo: The Japan Times)

Awe-Inspiring Journey: From Flawed Optics to Ingenious Repair – Hubble’s Incredible 30-year Legacy

It’s been three decades since NASA astronauts embarked on a daring mission to save the Hubble Space Telescope. Launched in 1990 with flawed optics that resulted in blurry images, Hubble’s remarkable design allowed for crucial repairs by astronauts, while in orbit around Earth.

The saga began 14 years prior, as work commenced on shaping the colossal 2.4-meter mirror, essential to Hubble’s optical system. Awarded to Perkins–Elmer, the task demanded meticulous precision, eventually involving technicians in an extraordinary endeavor.

For three years, they meticulously polished and measured the mirror, ensuring its curvature was ground to a mere five microns, imperceptible to the human eye. Laser grids and a reflective null corrector were employed to achieve this remarkable precision.

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By 1981, the mirror was perfected and integrated with the telescope’s components. However, it became apparent that Hubble’s repair needs would be unforeseeably urgent and dramatic, setting the stage for an unprecedented astronaut servicing mission.

During this mission, astronauts courageously replaced Hubble’s Wide Field and Planetary Camera with its successor, the WFPC2, ensuring its enhanced functionality. The triumphant rescue of the Hubble Space Telescope stands as a testament to human ingenuity and the relentless pursuit of excellence in space exploration.

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