Hubble in Flight (1997)

 Hubble in Flight (1997)

The Hubble Space Telescope drifts through space in this picture, taken by Space Shuttle Discovery during Hubble's second servicing mission in 1997. The 10-foot aperture door, open to admit light, closes to block out space debris. The observatory's solar panels and foil-like thermal blankets are clearly visible. The solar panels provide power, while the thermal blankets protect Hubble from the extreme temperatures of space.

Credits

NASA