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The main advantage of the Hubble Space Telescope is in it's name. It's in space! With a ground based telescope, the light that the telescope is looking at must travel through our atmosphere where it can become distorted and manipulated. Looking through a telescope on a windy day is much worse than on a calm day for example. Also, in space there are no clouds or day time, so Hubble can be looking and doing research 24 hours every day.

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It does not have the interference caused by the earth's atmosphere to see through, so it can make a better quality image.

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Q: What is the main advantage of the hubble space telescope?
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Where was the Hubble Space Telescope built?

Once the Space Telescope project had been given the go-ahead, work on the program was divided among many institutions. Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) was given responsibility for the design, development, and construction of the telescope, while theGoddard Space Flight Center was given overall control of the scientific instruments and ground-control center for the mission. MSFC commissioned the optics company Perkin-Elmer to design and build the Optical Telescope Assembly (OTA) and Fine Guidance Sensors for the space telescope. Lockheed was commissioned to construct the spacecraft in which the telescope would be housed. Perkin-Elmer was commissioned to build the optical components of the Hubble Space Telescope. The construction of the main mirror was begun in 1979 and polishing completed in 1981 in Danbury Connecticut.


How did Hubble space telescope affect the world?

The Hubble Space Telescope (HST) is a space telescope that was carried into orbit by a Space Shuttle in 1990 and remains in operation. A 2.4 meter (7.9 ft) aperture telescope in low Earth orbit, Hubble's four main instruments observe in the near ultraviolet, visible, and near infrared. The telescope is named after the astronomer Edwin Hubble.Hubble's orbit outside the distortion of Earth's atmosphere allows it to take extremely sharp images with almost no background light. Hubble's Ultra Deep Field image, for instance, is the most detailed visible-light image ever made of the universe's most distant objects. Many Hubble observations have led to breakthroughs in astrophysics, such as accurately determining the rate of expansion of the universe.Although not the first space telescope, Hubble is one of the largest and most versatile, and is well known as both a vital research tool and a public relations boon for astronomy. The HST was built by the United States space agency NASA, with contributions from the European Space Agency, and is operated by the Space Telescope Science Institute. The HST is one of NASA's Great Observatories, along with the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory, the Chandra X-ray Observatory, and the Spitzer Space Telescope.Space telescopes were proposed as early as 1923. Hubble was funded in the 1970s, with a proposed launch in 1983, but the project was beset by technical delays, budget problems, and the Challenger disaster. When finally launched in 1990, scientists found that the main mirror had been ground incorrectly, significantly compromising the telescope's capabilities. However, after a servicing mission in 1993, the telescope was restored to its intended quality.Hubble is the only telescope designed to be serviced in space by astronauts. Between 1993 and 2002, four missions repaired, upgraded, and replaced systems on the telescope, but a fifth mission was canceled on safety grounds following the Columbia disaster. However, after spirited public discussion, NASA administrator Mike Griffin approved one final servicing mission, completed in 2009. The telescope is now expected to function until at least 2014. Its scientific successor, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), is to be launched in 2018 or possibly later.


What kind of limitation for Earth-bound astronomers does the Hubble Space Telescope avoids?

A telescope on Earth has two main limitations: the Earth is rotating, and the atmosphere disturbs light from stars. Once the Hubble is aimed at an object, it is held pointed at the object by on board gyroscopes. There is no obstruction, such as the atmosphere, between the object and the Hubble.


When did the hubble brake?

There have been a number of problems with the Hubble Space Telescope over the years. Possibly the most serious was that the primary mirror of the telescope was incorrectly made; it was out of focus! Since there was no way to test it prior to launch, scientists didn't discover this until AFTER it had already been launched from the Space Shuttle and released into orbit. It was a GIANT disappointment. (The Hubble Space Telescope couldn't be tested on the ground, because the structure isn't strong enough to support its own weight in gravity.)For almost a year, the Hubble's telescope was as blind as man with broken glasses. Another Shuttle mission was required to install a corrective lens and bring the pictures back into proper focus.Since then the biggest problems have been batteries, computer systems and gyroscopes; several gyros have been replaced, and the main computer was replaced, and new more powerful instruments installed just this summer. At the moment, I believe that everything is working properly.


What advantage would go a telescope in space have over a telescope on Earth?

The main advantage would be the absence of an atmosphere. Any telescope on earth can only "see" electromagnetic (light) waves after they have travelled through the atmosphere, losing some of their directional integrity, which distorts the image seen in earth bound telescopes. Some light waves never make it to the telescope at all.

Related questions

What is the main advantage of the hubble telescope's location?

Hubble being in space does not have a problem of seeing which is caused by atmospheric blurring and thus can observe light at more wavelengths. Its only limitation is by diffraction in its optics


What makes The Hubble Space Telescope different from other telescopes?

The main difference between Hubble Space Telescopes and other telescopes is the fact that the Hubble is placed in outer space where it can observe without the distortion of the Earth's atmosphere.


How do space stations explore space?

space stations use a variety of objects to explore space. probes and the Hubble Space Telescope are main ones.


Why was the hubble telescope built?

The main reason that the Hubble telescope was built was to get pictures from outer space. The Hubble telescope was also built to help figure out how different planets function and if the telescope managers takes pictures of the sun or moon we can also find how natural disasters happen and how to help with the impacts on earth.


What is the Hubble space telescope's magnification?

It does not have a magnification properly speaking since it works as a camera, not a visual telescope. The aperture of the Cassegrain-Schmidt mirror is 2.4 m. The main camera has 16 MB.


How is the Hubble telescope different from a normal telescope used by astronomers on earth?

The main difference is that it is in orbit, above the atmosphere of the earth. This means that it can achieve a much better picture, since the light from the object in space wont be distorted by the atmosphere and its fluctuations. It means that the Hubble telescope can get away with using a much higher magnification.


What is the main reason the Hubble Telescope is able to take such clear pictures?

There is little atmosphere to hinder Hubble's view


Was the Hubble telescope discontinued?

Not yet. The Hubble Space Telescope is still in space, still operational. In fact, it received a substantial upgrade just last spring, with new gyroscopes, new sensors and a new communications array. But the main telescope cannot be upgraded without being entirely rebuilt, which cannot be done in space. The original plan was that the Hubble Space Telescope would be captured in orbit by the Space Shuttle, returned to Earth, and rebuilt. Later, it would be re-launched. But because the Space Shuttle fleet itself is scheduled to be retired in the next few years, this plan has been abandoned. The HST is tentatively scheduled to be de-orbited and crashed into the ocean in about 7 more years. With luck, there will be an even more powerful space telescope to replace it, but this is not yet firmly scheduled.


Where was the Hubble Space Telescope built?

Once the Space Telescope project had been given the go-ahead, work on the program was divided among many institutions. Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) was given responsibility for the design, development, and construction of the telescope, while theGoddard Space Flight Center was given overall control of the scientific instruments and ground-control center for the mission. MSFC commissioned the optics company Perkin-Elmer to design and build the Optical Telescope Assembly (OTA) and Fine Guidance Sensors for the space telescope. Lockheed was commissioned to construct the spacecraft in which the telescope would be housed. Perkin-Elmer was commissioned to build the optical components of the Hubble Space Telescope. The construction of the main mirror was begun in 1979 and polishing completed in 1981 in Danbury Connecticut.


What is the advantage and disadvantage of building the Hubble Telescope?

The first HUGE advantage is the ability to see objects without the obscurantism of the atmosphere. The atmosphere distorts and obscures a great deal of light from distant and dim objects. By placing the telescope OUTSIDE the atmosphere, this problem is eliminated. Also, the Hubble, being space-based, can observe phenomena that might be completely missed by land based telescopes because they occur during daylight hours at the land-based location. There is no daytime obscurantism of the stars from space. The main disadvantage is the cost of repairing the Hubble (dollars and risk to human life). The other disadvantage is the limited lifetime. Hubble needs to use fuel to keep in orbit and to change orientation to point at a particular phenomenon of interest. There is only so much fuel on board, and it will eventually be exhausted. At that time, Hubble will cease to be a viable system.


How did Hubble space telescope affect the world?

The Hubble Space Telescope (HST) is a space telescope that was carried into orbit by a Space Shuttle in 1990 and remains in operation. A 2.4 meter (7.9 ft) aperture telescope in low Earth orbit, Hubble's four main instruments observe in the near ultraviolet, visible, and near infrared. The telescope is named after the astronomer Edwin Hubble.Hubble's orbit outside the distortion of Earth's atmosphere allows it to take extremely sharp images with almost no background light. Hubble's Ultra Deep Field image, for instance, is the most detailed visible-light image ever made of the universe's most distant objects. Many Hubble observations have led to breakthroughs in astrophysics, such as accurately determining the rate of expansion of the universe.Although not the first space telescope, Hubble is one of the largest and most versatile, and is well known as both a vital research tool and a public relations boon for astronomy. The HST was built by the United States space agency NASA, with contributions from the European Space Agency, and is operated by the Space Telescope Science Institute. The HST is one of NASA's Great Observatories, along with the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory, the Chandra X-ray Observatory, and the Spitzer Space Telescope.Space telescopes were proposed as early as 1923. Hubble was funded in the 1970s, with a proposed launch in 1983, but the project was beset by technical delays, budget problems, and the Challenger disaster. When finally launched in 1990, scientists found that the main mirror had been ground incorrectly, significantly compromising the telescope's capabilities. However, after a servicing mission in 1993, the telescope was restored to its intended quality.Hubble is the only telescope designed to be serviced in space by astronauts. Between 1993 and 2002, four missions repaired, upgraded, and replaced systems on the telescope, but a fifth mission was canceled on safety grounds following the Columbia disaster. However, after spirited public discussion, NASA administrator Mike Griffin approved one final servicing mission, completed in 2009. The telescope is now expected to function until at least 2014. Its scientific successor, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), is to be launched in 2018 or possibly later.


What is the Hubble space shuttle?

The Hubble Space Telescope (HST) is a space telescope that was carried into orbit by the Space Shuttle Discovery in April 1990. It is named for the American astronomer Edwin Hubble. Although not the first space telescope, the Hubble is one of the largest and most versatile, and is well known as both a vital research tool and a public relations boon for astronomy. The HST is a collaboration between NASA and the European Space Agency, and is one of NASA's Great Observatories, along with the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory, the Chandra X-ray Observatory, and the Spitzer Space Telescope. Space telescopes were proposed as early as 1923. The Hubble was funded in the 1970s, with a proposed launch in 1983, but the project was beset by technical delays, budget problems, and the Challenger disaster. When finally launched in 1990, scientists found that the main mirror had been ground incorrectly, severely compromising the telescope's capabilities. However, after a servicing mission in 1993, the telescope was restored to its intended quality. Hubble's position outside the Earth's atmosphere allows it to take extremely sharp images with almost no background light. Hubble's Ultra Deep Field image, for instance, is the most detailed visible-light image of the universe's most distant objects ever made. Many Hubble observations have led to breakthroughs in astrophysics, such as accurately determining the rate of expansion of the universe. The Hubble is the only telescope ever designed to be serviced in space by astronauts. To date, there have been four servicing missions. Servicing Mission 1 took place in December 1993 when Hubble's imaging flaw was corrected. Servicing missions 2, 3A, and 3B repaired various sub-systems and replaced many of the observing instruments with more modern and capable versions. However, following the 2003 Columbia Space Shuttle disaster, the fifth servicing mission was canceled on safety grounds. After spirited public discussion, NASA reconsidered this decision, and administrator Mike Griffin gave the green light for one final Hubble servicing mission. This was planned for October 2008, but in September 2008, another key component failed. The servicing mission has been postponed until May 2009 to allow this unit to be replaced as well. The planned repairs to the Hubble should allow the telescope to function until at least 2013, when its successor, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), is due to be launched. The JWST will be far superior to Hubble for many astronomical research programs, but will only observe in infrared, so it would complement (not replace) Hubble's ability to observe in the visible and ultraviolet parts of the spectrum.