The Hubble Telescope will most likely be replaced in 2013.

For decades, Hopkins has coordinated Hubble Space Telescope research

Scientists and students around the world utilize data from the Space Telescope Science Institute's work, organized and run on the Hopkins Homewood campus since the early 1980's

By: Laura Muth

Posted: 4/30/09

Since the early 1980s, Hopkins has been home to the science operations of the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI), the institute in charge of the Hubble Space Telescope.

When NASA issued a proposal in search of a group to run the telescope, Hopkins applied with a not-for-profit group, the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA) and jointly won the right to do so. The center, located directly across San Martin Drive from the Homewood Campus, has been in operation ever since.

Over the years, the center has advanced astronomical and astrophysical research for scientists around the world. The STScI at Homewood selects which programs are assigned to the telescope, schedules them and then collects data and releases news of their findings. In recent years, the number of science papers citing data from the Hubble and therefore STScI has increased from about 250 in 1995 to roughly 700 in 2006.

"All the pictures you ever see from the Hubble Space Telescope come out of this building," said Charles Mountain, professor of physics and astronomy and director of STScI.

He said that the institute had also drawn researchers to the University itself and generated growth in related departments, such as physics and astronomy. It currently employs 475 staff members in total. 219 of those are engaged in work on the Hubble.

These research scientists are ranked sixth in the world, as measured by their publication productivity.

33 U.S. universities and seven international affiliates are involved in AURA. In this way, the STScI serves as the "interface between the broad astronomic community and NASA and the telescope," according to Mountain.

"The Hubble Telescope is the most productive telescope in history, and it's actually run out of Homewood," he said.

Mountain and a number of other researchers and scientists involved with the project were appointed jointly by STScI and Hopkins. Annually, STScI gives out $22 million in grants to researchers who have been chosen to run projects through the telescope, and about 7,000 people use the telescope around the world. 17 new Hubble fellowships are granted annually.

STScI also hosts major conferences regarding new research and fields of exploration, including an upcoming event called "The Search for Life in the Universe," which Mountain considers to be the next major field of inquiry for the institute and astronomy.

Observations taken from the Hubble have led to a number of historic scientific breakthroughs, including determining the rate of expansion of the universe, studying the behavior and characteristics of dark matter and the detection and characterization of extrasolar planets, planets beyond the Earth's solar system.

However, the Hubble was launched in 1990, and it is now drawing close to the end of its mission, according to Kathryn Flanagan, head of the James Webb Space Telescope, the project that is to eventually replace the Hubble.

"The Hubble's last servicing mission is being launched in about two weeks," she said.

According to Flanagan, there will be some overlap between the time when the James Webb is launched and the Hubble is retired. Currently 94 scientists, researchers and engineers are working on its development.

Although it is considered the Hubble's replacement, the James Webb telescope is fundamentally different in several ways. The Hubble makes optical observations based on the light spectrum visible to the human eye. The James Webb will make infrared observations. Additionally, the James Webb will be orbiting at 1.5 million kilometers, while the Hubble orbits at 570 kilometers.

Flanagan thinks that the Hubble has performed important scientific functions and will continue to do so for the rest of its operational time.

"It's an unbelievable resource for all of the astronomical community," she said. "And for students, it's also a major draw."

She cited the examples of graduate students using data from the Hubble for their theses and research opportunities available at all graduate and undergraduate levels. STScI also runs a summer undergraduate program.

Flanagan also thinks that in the future, STScI could become a source of jobs for recent graduates and other members of the community.

"Pretty soon, possibly in 2011, we'll most likely be hiring," she said. "We'll be ramping up work on the James Webb, and the Hubble operations will continue to take a significant core staff for some time."

The James Webb is currently scheduled to be launched sometime in 2013.