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For just a moment, think back to when the first computers containing Intel's 80486 processor were being released. Things were quite different back then.
On April 24, 1990, shuttle mission STS-31 saw Discovery launch the Hubble Space Telescope successfully into its planned orbit.
From Celebrating 25 years of the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope:
On the 24 April 2015 the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope will celebrate 25 years since its launch.
During the 1970s, NASA and ESA began planning for a space telescope that could transcend the blurring effects of the atmosphere and take clearer images of the Universe than ever before. In 1990 the idea finally became a reality and, despite a flaw in the main mirror which was quite swiftly corrected, Hubble has since far exceeded expectations.
It has delved deeper into the early years of the Universe than was ever thought possible, played a critical part in the discovery that the expansion of the Universe is accelerating and probed the atmospheres of planets around distant stars.
Hubble had 5 servicing missions. The main mirror was ground incorrectly, and a significant part of that first servicing mission was to install corrective optics. The effect was dramatic. Who can forget those amazing photos like The Pillars of Creation and Hubble Deep Field? Just think of all the fantastic pictures from Hubble that graced the Astronomy Picture of the Day!
What are your most memorable recollections of the Hubble Space Telescope's accomplishments? Did you see the launch of the telescope or one of the servicing missions? Did you play a role in any of its projects?
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Techwolf on Friday April 24 2015, @10:54PM
That image was just amazing and humbling when taken into context of just how small a spot in the sky was used to create it.