Hubble Timeline

Follow Hubble's journey from an idea of a "Large Space Telescope" to its position as one of the most scientifically productive and beloved telescopes of all time. The timelines below offer an interactive selection of Hubble highlights.

Quick Facts

Hubble's observation of the fragments of comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 hitting Jupiter was the first time astronomers witnessed the collision of two astronomical objects.

The planet Jupiter's southern hemisphere is dotted with dark smudges where comet segments struck the planet. The impact sites are roughly in line.

Astronauts spent a total of 57 days, 15 hours, 48 minutes and 8 seconds in space on missions to Hubble.

Astronaut on an EVA in a white space suit waving while working on the Hubble space telescope.

The first Hubble science paper was submitted on October 1, 1990 and dealt with the environment around a suspected black hole in a galaxy's core.

A black and white image with two sections. The left shows a white dot surrounded by an dimmer oval haze of light. The right shows a bright hazy white oval of light, brighter and more solid in the middle and becoming fuzzy as it progresses outward.

Since launch, Hubble has overcome its troubled beginnings to perform innumerable science observations that have revolutionized humanity’s understanding of the universe. From determining the age of the universe to observing dramatic changes on celestial bodies in our own solar system, Hubble has become one of humanity’s greatest scientific instruments.

The complete timeline below describes Hubble’s history from the first proposal of a space telescope by Lyman Spitzer in 1946, through the completion of Hubble’s five servicing missions in the 1990s and 2000s, and to many of the significant observations and discoveries Hubble has made during its years in orbit.

Full Timeline: Milestones

Non-interactive, full-text listing of the Hubble History Timeline

Hubble pioneers

Edwin Hubble sitting at a desk holding a galaxy image.

Edwin Hubble

Astronomer for whom the telescope is named

Lyman Spitzer

Lyman Spitzer

Astronomer who first proposed a space-based observatory

Dr. Nancy Grace Roman

Nancy Grace Roman

Astronomer who started NASA's space astronomy program

John Bahcall looks at the camera in front of a bookshelf. He wears a light gray shirt, red tie, and glasses.

John Bahcall

Astrophysicist who worked tirelessly for the mission and its scientific design

John Grunsfeld - Astronaut and Former Associate Administrator for the Science Mission Directorate

John Grunsfeld

Astronaut that serviced the telescope on three missions

Focused Timeline: Hubble's Science Discoveries

Non-interactive, full-text listing of the Hubble Science Timeline

MEET Hubble SCIENTISTS

Hubble Senior Project Scientist Dr. Jennifer Wiseman

Dr. Jennifer Wiseman

Senior Project Scientist

Hubble Operations Project Scientist Dr. Kenneth Carpenter

Dr. Ken Carpenter

Operations Project Scientist

Olivia Lupie

Dr. Olivia Lupie

Instrument Systems Manager

John Grunsfeld - Astronaut and Former Associate Administrator for the Science Mission Directorate

Dr. John Grunsfeld

Astronaut that serviced the telescope on three missions

Headshot of Andy Ptak standing in front of Arp273 - The Rose Galaxies

Dr. Andrew Ptak

Deputy Operations Project Scientist

Dr. Richard Barry

Dr. Richard Barry

Observatory Project Scientist

Focused Timeline: Servicing Missions

Non-interactive, full-text listing of Hubble Servicing Missions Timeline

Meet the Hubble Astronauts

All Hubble Astronauts
John Grunsfeld - Astronaut and Former Associate Administrator for the Science Mission Directorate

John Grunsfeld

Mission Specialist

Photo of astronaut Scott Altman in his orange spacesuit. American flag is behind him.

Scott Altman

Commander

Photo of astronaut Charles Bolden in his orange spacesuit. American flag is behind him.

Charles Bolden

Pilot

Official astronaut portrait of Kathryn Thornton.

Kathryn Thornton

Mission Specialist

Official astronaut portrait of Scott Kelly.

Scott Kelly

Pilot

Photo of astronaut Megan McArthur in her orange spacesuit. American flag is behind her.

Megan McArthur

Mission Specialist

Official astronaut portrait of Claude Nicollier.

Claude Nicollier

Mission Specialist

Hubble's Universe

Hubble’s Universe

121 Images
A combintation of yellow, brown, red, and blue/violet colored gas intermixed with blue and yellow stars.
Arms swirl of new blue stars around a central region of older yellow stars in this galaxy image.
Bright blue aurora circle the top of Jupiter's north pole.
Thousands of galaxies float in a small section of space.
A colorful red, orange, and brown and dust cloud with a bright blue star cluster on the right side.
A swirling dense galaxy with thick dust clouds surrounds a central region of older yellow stars whose front half appears darker, resembling a black eye.
A cluster of yellow galaxies with hundreds of background galaxies. The image include arcs that are distorted images of background galaxies.
Two galaxies interacting that look like mice with tails.
A massive cluster of blue, red, yellow, and white stars.
Go To Gallery

Flip through some of Hubble's most iconic images taken during its three decades of operations.

More Things Hubble

  • nearly spherical gathering of white stars at center top. Blue gas cloud extends from top left to center bottom

    Hubble Science Highlights

    Hubble’s most notable scientific discoveries reflect the broad range of research and the breakthroughs it has achieved.

  • Upper left: "Hubble Focus" opening of the telescope is the "O" Center: bright-white star, Center Bottom: Orange-red planet with cloud bands, Center: small, bright-white star and very small red-orange dwarf star

    Hubble E-books

    Investigate the mysteries of the universe with Hubble. Learn Hubble's history. E-books dive deeper into Hubble discoveries and more.

  • Hubble Observatory - Diagram

    Observatory Design

    Hubble is the first space-based observatory specifically designed for servicing while in orbit. Learn more about its systems and design.

  • An astronaut stands in front of a background of a nebula against a deep field of galaxies. The words "Name That Nebula" hovers above.

    Hubble Online Activities

    Find your Hubble birthday image, take interactive tours, play games and more.

Explore More

5 min read

NASA’s Chandra, Hubble Tune Into ‘Flame-Throwing’ Guitar Nebula

Normally found only in heavy metal bands or certain post-apocalyptic films, a “flame-throwing guitar” has now been spotted moving through space. Astronomers have captured movies of this extreme cosmic object using NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory and Hubble Space Telescope. The new movie of Chandra (red) and Palomar (blue) data helps break down what is playing […]

Article15 hours ago
In the center is a large, oval-shaped galaxy, with a shining, ringed core. Left of its center is a second, smaller galaxy with two spiral arms. The galaxy pair is so close that they appear to be merging: a tail of material with a few glowing spots connects from one of the smaller galaxy’s spiral arms to the larger galaxy. A faint halo surrounds both galaxies. Several stars are visible around the pair.
2 min read

Hubble Takes a Look at Tangled Galaxies

Article6 days ago
Labeled “Artist’s Concept” at bottom right, the graphic shows a closeup of a dwarf galaxy, which appears roughly circular with a light-yellow bar in the center. Faint, blue, wispy, cloud-like features surround this yellow bar, and they are sprinkled with tiny white specks. A wide, wispy, purple arc appears to the left of the galaxy. Trailing the galaxy is a large, faint, wide, tail-like feature.
5 min read

NASA’s Hubble Sees Aftermath of Galaxy’s Scrape with Milky Way

Article7 days ago