Hubble at 36: How a blurry launch reshaped our view of the cosmos
The Hubble Space Telescope marks 36 years in orbit, overcoming an early blurry image issue with five servicing missions, and accumulating nearly 1.7 million observations that spurred more than 22,000 papers and 1.3 million citations. Its Deep Field images helped redefine cosmic age, expansion, dark energy, exoplanet atmospheres, and the presence of supermassive black holes, while inspiring a generation and guiding future observatories like the Habitable Worlds Observatory. Hubble’s enduring, serviceable design and public imagery have made it a lasting scientific and cultural icon, with a legacy that continues as it works alongside the James Webb Space Telescope and beyond.
