Hubble

Initially launching a telescope into orbit was planned for October 1986, but the Challenger disaster on 28 January suspended the Space Shuttle program for several years, and the launch was postponed.

Forced to make it possible to delay a number of improvements: solar panels have been replaced by a more effective, has been upgraded on-board computer system and communications system, and also changed the design of feed a protective cover to facilitate the servicing of the telescope in orbit.

All the while, the telescope parts were stored in rooms with an artificially purified the atmosphere, further increasing the cost of the project.

Following the resumption of shuttle flights in 1988, the launch was finally appointed in 1990. Before starting the accumulated dust on the mirror was removed with compressed nitrogen, and all systems have passed rigorous testing.

Shuttle «Discovery» STS-31 launched 24 April 1990 and the next day brought the telescope to the design orbit.

From initial design to launch was about 2.5 billion U.S. in the initial budget of 400 million total cost of the project, the assessment for 1999 amounted to 6 billion dollars from the American side, and 593 million euros paid by the ESA.