Which NASA space telescope launched in 1990 and studies visible, ultraviolet, and near-infrared light?
Answer
Hubble Space Telescope
The Hubble Space Telescope launched in 1990 and studies visible, ultraviolet, and near-infrared light.
NASA launched Hubble aboard the space shuttle Discovery on April 24, 1990. Its position above Earth’s atmosphere allows it to obtain sharp images that are not blurred by atmospheric turbulence.
A flaw in Hubble’s primary mirror caused blurred images during its first years in orbit. Astronauts corrected the problem during the 1993 servicing mission by installing corrective optics and upgraded instruments.
Hubble has observed galaxies, nebulae, star-forming regions, planets, and variable stars. It is a joint NASA and European Space Agency project, with servicing missions performed by space shuttle crews.