On 24 April, the most sophisticated optical observatory was launched into space. Because Hubble orbits the earth above the atmosphere, it receives images superior to those of ground-based telescopes. The Hubble Telescope was authorized by U.S. Congress in 1977. The construction of the project was overseen by the National Aeronautics and Space Agency (NASA). The telescope was named after Alfred Hubble, foremost American astronomer of the 20th century. On 25 April, the crew of space shuttle Discovery launched the Hubble Telescope into orbit 370 miles above the earth.
85 words
Citation: Richert, Lucas Paul. "Hubble Space Telescope launched". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 01 October 2008 [https://staging.litencyc.com/php/stopics.php?rec=true&UID=3897, accessed 26 November 2024.]