THIS DAY IN HISTORY: Space Shuttle Discovery Launches From Cape Canaveral 35 Years Ago Carrying Hubble Space Telescope
By Space Coast Daily // April 23, 2025
April 23, 1990
BREVARD COUNTY • CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA – On April 23, 1990, NASA made history with the launch of the Hubble Space Telescope aboard Space Shuttle Discovery on mission STS-31. The launch marked a pivotal moment in space exploration, ushering in a new era of astronomical observation.
Lifting off from Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Pad 39B, Discovery carried Hubble into low Earth orbit, where it was deployed to begin its mission of capturing detailed images of the cosmos. The observatory was the result of decades of planning and collaboration between NASA and the European Space Agency, and it became one of the most significant scientific instruments ever placed in space.
Over the past 35 years, Hubble has transformed humanity’s understanding of the universe. From capturing breathtaking images of distant galaxies and nebulae to measuring the rate of cosmic expansion, the telescope has played a key role in countless scientific discoveries.
Among its many achievements, Hubble helped confirm the existence of dark energy, provided precise measurements of the age of the universe, and offered unprecedented views of planets both inside and beyond our solar system.
Despite early setbacks, including a flawed primary mirror that was corrected during a servicing mission in 1993, Hubble has exceeded expectations, with five servicing missions ensuring its continued operation well into the 21st century.
The success of the Hubble mission set the stage for future observatories, including the James Webb Space Telescope, which launched in 2021. Together, these instruments continue to expand the frontiers of space science.
As NASA and the global scientific community reflect on the Hubble Space Telescope’s decades of service, its legacy endures—not just through the science it enables, but through the inspiration it provides for future generations of explorers.
