Image Archive: Spacecraft

SM4: Grunsfeld and Feustel work on Hubble

Mon, 07 Mar 2022 16:00:00 +0100

Astronauts Andrew Feustel (left) and John Grunsfeld, both STS-125 mission specialists, participate in the mission's third session of extravehicular activity (EVA) as work continues to refurbish and upgrade the Hubble Space Telescope. During the six-hour, 36-minute spacewalk, Grunsfeld and Feustel removed the Corrective Optics Space Telescope Axial Replacement and installed in its place the new Cosmic Origins Spectrograph. They also completed the Advanced Camera for Surveys electronic card replacement work, and completed part 2 of the ACS repair, installing a new electronics box and cable.

Webb Liftoff on Ariane 5

Thu, 30 Dec 2021 15:13:13 +0100

The James Webb Space Telescope lifted off on an Ariane 5 rocket from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana, at 13:20 CET on 25 December on its exciting mission to unlock the secrets of the Universe.

Screenshot of Hubblecast 128

Mon, 27 Apr 2020 10:00:00 +0200

Screenshot from Hubblecast 128: Hubble’s Collection of Anniversary Images.

Hubble Space Telescope sporting new solar arrays during SM3B

Thu, 05 Mar 2020 10:00:00 +0100

STS109-E-5700 (9 March 2002) --- The Hubble Space Telescope, sporting new solar arrays and other important but less visible new hardware, begins its separation from the Space Shuttle Columbia. The STS-109 crew deployed the giant telescope at 4:04 a.m. CST (1004 GMT), March 9, 2002. Afterward, the seven crew members began to focus their attention to the trip home, scheduled for March 12. The STS-109 astronauts conducted five space walks to service and upgrade Hubble. This image was recorded with a digital still camera.

Comparison of Hubble and James Webb mirror (annotated)

Fri, 02 Nov 2018 07:25:58 +0100

This illustration shows both the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope and the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope and compares their respective mirrors. The main mirror of Hubble has a diameter of 2.4 metres, the foldable main mirror of James Webb is even 6.5 metres in diameter.

Comparison of Hubble and James Webb mirror

Fri, 02 Nov 2018 07:25:48 +0100

SM2: Hubble in Free Orbit

Wed, 24 Oct 2018 11:00:00 +0200

The Hubble Space Telescope (HST) begins its separation from Discovery following its release. The photo was taken during Servicing Mission 2 in 1997.

Hubble Space Telescope sporting new solar arrays during SM3B

Wed, 17 Oct 2018 16:00:00 +0200

The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, sporting new solar arrays and other important but less visible new hardware, begins its separation from the Space Shuttle Columbia. The STS-109 crew deployed the giant telescope at 4:04 a.m. CST (10:04 GMT), 9 March 2002. Afterward, the seven crew members began to focus their attention to the trip home, scheduled for 12 March. The STS-109 astronauts conducted five space walks to service and upgrade Hubble. This image was recorded with a digital still camera.

SM3A: Graceful Hubble

Tue, 09 Oct 2018 12:45:00 +0200

The Hubble Space Telescope (HST) floats gracefully above the blue Earth after release from Discovery's robot arm after a successful servicing mission.

ESA’s Gaia satellite

Mon, 27 Nov 2017 17:00:00 +0100

ESA’s Gaia satellite is a space telescope designed to measure the positions of billions of stars with unprecedented precision. Gaia was launched on 19 December 2013 and is located at the L2 Lagrange point — the same location that the upcoming NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope will have.

Breaking down space telescopes

Thu, 04 May 2017 14:15:45 +0200

This diagram shows the structures of three space telescopes: the NASA Spitzer Space Telescope, the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, and ESA's XMM-Newton. The components of each telescope are colour-coded.

Hubble's Battery Module Assembly with lid removed

Mon, 18 May 2015 17:57:20 +0200

Battery Module Assembly with lid removed, showing the cells and power isolation switches

The Hubble Space Telescope in orbit

Fri, 17 Apr 2015 14:00:00 +0200

This image shows an artist's impression of the ESA/NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope in its orbit 600 km above the Earth.

Hubble's Wide Field Camera 3

Fri, 17 Apr 2015 10:59:40 +0200

This photo shows's Hubble's Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3) being tested before it was launched. The camera was installed during the Servicing Mission 4 in May 2009 and replaced the older Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 (WFPC2).

The Cosmic Origins Spectrograph

Tue, 06 May 2014 15:53:07 +0200

Cosmic Origins Spectrograph (COS), in the Clean Room at Goddard Space Flight Center showing the connector panel. Aboard Hubble, COS will study the large-scale structure of the Universe and the formation and evolution of galaxies, stars and planets. It will also help determine the formation of elements considered essential for life, such as carbon and iron.

Hubble in orbit (artist's impression)

Thu, 18 Oct 2012 09:59:15 +0200

This artist's concept shows the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope in orbit around the Earth. The telescope's current appearance is the result both of its original design, and the modifications made during five servicing missions. In particular, the most recent set of solar panels, visible here, substantially changed the appearance of the telescope when they were installed during Servicing Mission 3B in 2002. They are smaller than the older panels, and produce significantly more power.

Artist rendition of Hubble

Thu, 03 Mar 2011 18:39:40 +0100

This is an artist's rendition of the Hubble Space Telescope (HST).

Sunburst between Hubble and Discovery

Thu, 03 Mar 2011 18:19:52 +0100

In this image we see a sunburst between the solar array of the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) and the Space Shuttle Discovery.

Diagram of the Hubble Space Telescope, 1981

Mon, 21 Feb 2011 11:23:40 +0100

Diagram of the Hubble Space Telescope from 1981.

Hubble in orbit

Wed, 26 Jan 2011 17:33:25 +0100

This illustration shows the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope in its high orbit 600 kilometres above Earth.

Hubble with spectra from the Space Telescope European Coordinating Facility

Fri, 17 Dec 2010 15:00:00 +0100

This image of Hubble is made up of a mosaic of over 47 000 unique slitless spectra, which have been processed and studied at the Space Telescope European Coordinating Facility (ST-ECF). They represent the emissions of a wide range of astronomical objects, ranging from stars to galaxies. The ST-ECF, which is closing at the end of 2010, after 26 years of successful operation, has pioneered the process of slitless spectroscopy from which these spectra are derived.

Hubble with spectra from the Space Telescope European Coordinating Facility

Fri, 17 Dec 2010 15:00:00 +0100

This image of Hubble is set against a background of hundreds of unique slitless spectra obtained by Hubble. The Space Telescope European Coordinating Facility (ST-ECF) was heavily involved in the development of slitless spectroscopy, which is used to study some of the faintest and most distant objects in the Universe. The ST-ECF is closing at the end of 2010, after 26 successful years.

Screenshot of Hubblecast 41

Tue, 14 Dec 2010 16:30:00 +0100

Watch the Hubblecast 41 on: http://www.spacetelescope.org/videos/hubblecast41a/

Hubble cartoon

Wed, 01 Dec 2010 11:54:23 +0100

Hubble cartoon

Hubble exploded view

Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Hubble Exploded View