Celebrating 25 years of Hubble
On 24 April 1990, NASA launched one of the most ambitious experiments in the history of astronomy: the Hubble Space Telescope.
Scientists in our Department of Physics and Astronomy recount their involvement in the project and discuss its importance in understanding the universe.
In celebration of Hubble's 25th anniversary, space scientists from our Department of Physics and Astronomy pay homage to what has been hailed as one of the greatest scientific instruments created.
Professor Martin Barstow, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Head of the College of Science & Engineering, Professor of Astrophysics & Space Science and President of the Royal Astronomical Society, recalls the high and lows of the Hubble Space Telescope's 25 years exploring the cosmos in an online feature.
Professor Nial Tanvir describes his work with the most famous telescope not on Earth in a press release.
University of Leicester Visiting Professor Jeff Hoffman, who has been on five Space Shuttle missions, including the one that fixed the Hubble Space Telescope, offers his recollections on the milestone project.
He has logged 1,211 hours and 21.5 million miles in space. Now firmly Earth-bound, he is a Professor in the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics at MIT and regularly visits Leicester's Department of Physics and Astronomy to teach about human spaceflight and to give public lectures at the University.
Rescuing and repairing the Hubble Space Telescope was, according to Professor Hoffman, the ‘most ambitious repair mission ever planned by NASA.’
You can also watch an interview with Professor Hoffman below: