Hubble celebrates a quarter century to scrutinize the stars – Liberation

HISTORY

On 24 April 1990, the shuttle Discovery takes off from Kennedy Space Center with on board the Hubble Space Telescope. 25, astronaut Steven Hawley, at the controls of the articulated arm of the shuttle, puts it in orbit 600 km altitude. Hubble has since taken over a million images of stars sometimes located several thousand light-years from Earth. These clichés become extremely popular, considered as “flamboyant works of art” with the critic Jonathan Jones art, have contributed to advances in astronomy, highlighting the expansion of the Universe. Five of maintenance and repair missions have extended the life of Hubble until 2016. The project was launched in the 70s by NASA and ESA (European Space Agency). While it was expected to last 15 years, Hubble celebrates its 25th anniversary this week. Jennifer Wiseman of NASA Goddard, he still has good years ahead of him. It should be supported in 2018 by the James Webb Space Telescope, even more powerful. Photo European Southern Observatory. AFP