Hubble Space Telescope Postcard

The NASA Hubble Space Telescope is an amazing instrument of scientific observation. Launched in 1990, this orbiting astronomy satellite has served the science community for over a quarter of a century. It remains operational to this day, still sending back astounding photos of stars, galaxies and nebulae and the planets of our Solar System, all in ultraviolet, visible and near infrared light. Five repair missions have upgraded all of the main instruments and fixed a manufacturing error involving the main mirror. It is possible that Hubble will last until 2030 or even 2040 before deorbiting. The James Webb Space Telescope is intended to take its place as an orbiting observatory, possibly to be followed by the Advanced Technology Large-Aperture Space Telescope for the next generation of deep space observations. The HST is shown against a background of its image of the Ghost Nebula in constellation of Cassiopeia.