Trouble with Hubble: 1. A window on the universe

The Hubble Space Telescope represents a monumental leap in astronomy, designed to capture pristine light from the ancient universe by bypassing atmospheric distortion. This narrative follows the intense preparation of astronauts like Kathy Sullivan, who meticulously ready the telescope for deployment, only to face a sudden halt following the 1986 Challenger disaster. The grounding of the space program leaves the telescope in limbo, threatening the future of space-based observation. Lyman Spitzer’s visionary concept of a space-based observatory eventually reaches fruition in 1990, when the Space Shuttle Discovery successfully launches the instrument into orbit. Despite the triumph of the launch, the mission faces immediate, unforeseen technical challenges that threaten to turn this scientific breakthrough into a national disgrace, setting the stage for a desperate struggle to save the telescope and the future of NASA.