FACT CHECK #GV7FHNB4

WHAT WE FOUND

The claim is accurate. NASA states that Hubble was launched April 24, 1990, aboard Space Shuttle Discovery's STS-31 mission 1. The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum confirms the April 24, 1990 launch into low Earth orbit, with deployment on April 25 4. NASA's archive entry also dates the launch to April 1990 2. Secondary sources agree, including the ESA/Hubble fact sheet 7, the Kennedy Space Center 8, the American Physical Society 11, and Wikipedia 6. The well-known mirror flaw (spherical aberration) was found after launch, but it does not affect the launch date 16. No source contradicts the date.

SOURCES

1. 1 · science.nasa.govACADEMIC
   The History of Hubble

   TIER A

2. 2 · nasa.govACADEMIC
   April 1990 - Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Launched

   TIER A

3. 3 · research.arizona.eduACADEMIC
   Hubble Space Telescope Facts | Research and Partnerships

   TIER A

4. 4 · airandspace.si.eduACADEMIC
   Telling Hubble's Story for 30 Years

   TIER A

5. 5 · bbc.comNEWS
   Witness History | The launch of the Hubble Space Telescope

   TIER A

6. 6 · en.wikipedia.orgWEB
   Hubble Space Telescope

   TIER B

7. 7 · esahubble.orgWEB
   Fact Sheet

   TIER B

8. 8 · kennedyspacecenter.comWEB
   30 Facts for 30 Years of Hubble

   TIER B

9. 9 · ieeephotonics.orgWEB
   Celebrating 35 Years of Discovery: The Hubble Space ...

   TIER B

10. 10 · archivesfoundation.orgWEB
    A Window to the Stars: The Hubble Telescope

    TIER B

11. 11 · aps.orgWEB
    April 24, 1990: Launch of the Hubble Space Telescope

    TIER B

12. 12 · esa.intWEB
    ESA - Hubble Space Telescope

    TIER B

THE READING