Which space telescope launched in 1990 and was named after an American astronomer?

The Hubble Space Telescope launched in 1990 and was named after American astronomer Edwin Hubble.

NASA launched Hubble aboard the space shuttle Discovery on 24 April 1990. It operates above most of Earth’s atmosphere, allowing it to produce sharper observations than ground-based telescopes in many wavelengths. Hubble’s instruments have studied planets, stars, nebulae, galaxies and the expansion of the universe.

A flaw in Hubble’s primary mirror initially caused severe image blurring. Astronauts corrected the problem during the 1993 servicing mission by installing corrective optics and upgraded instruments. Further shuttle servicing missions replaced equipment, extended the observatory’s capabilities and kept it productive for decades.

Hubble is often described as a space telescope, but it is not the largest telescope in every category. The James Webb Space Telescope has a larger primary mirror and is optimized especially for infrared observations. Hubble’s enduring importance comes from its long operating life, broad wavelength coverage and influential public images as well as its scientific results.