Hubble

Due to the success of the program at JSC astronomical community, a consensus that the construction of a large orbital telescope should be a priority. In 1970, NASA established two committees, one for studying and planning the technical aspects, the second objective was to develop a research program. The next major obstacle was funding the project, the cost of which would have to exceed the value of any ground-based telescope. The U.S. Congress has challenged many of the articles proposed budget and substantially cut is made, originally estimated scale research tools, and design the observatory. In 1974, the program budget reductions initiated by President Ford, Congress abolished the financing of the project.

In response, the astronomers had launched a broad campaign of lobbying. Many scientists personally met with the senators and congressmen, was also undertaken several large mailings of letters in support of the project. National Academy of Sciences published a report, which highlighted the importance of creating a large orbiting telescope, and as a result, the Senate agreed to allocate half the funds from the budget initially approved by Congress.

Financial problems led to cuts, chief among them was the decision to reduce the diameter of the mirror from 3 to 2.4 meters, to reduce costs and more compact design. Also, the project was canceled with polutorametrovym telescope mirror, which was to be run to test and develop systems, and the decision on cooperation with the European Space Agency. ESA has agreed to participate in the financing, as well as provide a range of instruments and solar panels for the observatory, in return for European astronomers reserved at least 15% of the time of observation. In 1978, Congress approved funding of $ 36 million, and immediately thereafter began full-scale work on the design. Launch date scheduled for 1983. In the early 1980's the telescope is named Edwin Hubble.