The Hubble Telescope

Conceptualized in 1946 and launched in 1990, the Hubble telescope orbits the Earth and sends pictures back that aren't blurred by background light or the atmosphere. The telescope was named after Edwin Hubble who made a great scientific breakthrough when he found that the universe was expanding. After the Hubble was launched into space, one of the main mirrors was causing aberrations in the pictures being sent back to Earth. In 1993, a servicing mission was deemed necessary and they returned the telescope to its former capabilities.

Currently in 2007, several of the Hubble's turning gyroscopes have failed, and its main camera stopped working. There is a planned service mission scheduled for 2008 which will hopefully allow the telescope to function until 2013. After that, a new telescope will be launched to take its place. The James Webb Space Telescope will be superior to the Hubble in many ways, but will only record in infrared.
Challenges were also part of the telescope's creation. It would have to able to withstand direct passes by the sun and behind the earth. Temperatures in these areas were either extremely hot or extremely cold. The scientists finally came up with a multi-layer shroud to keep the temperature within the telescope stable at all times.
The mirrors were another problem. They were polished and grinded from the beginning of 1979 until May of 1981. Using low expansion glass, they kept the mirror's weight at a minimum. The mirror was finished by the end of 1981, and they added a reflective coat of Aluminum and a protective coat of Magnesium Fluoride.
The Hubble has given us pictures of comets, the planets, established the presence of black holes, and other stars and galaxies nearby. To view the wondrous images, go to http://archive.stsci.edu/hst and click on gallery. You will find some of the most incredible pictures you have ever seen.