Naked Science Season 4 Episode 7 Hubble Trouble

In this episode of Naked Science season 4, titled "Hubble Trouble," viewers are taken on a journey through the history of the Hubble Space Telescope, a highly advanced piece of technology designed to capture stunning images of space.

The episode begins with a look at the early days of space exploration, when telescopes were limited in their capabilities and scientists could only see a limited view of the universe. Next, we are introduced to the Hubble Space Telescope, which was launched into space in 1990 with the goal of providing clear, sharp images of distant galaxies and other celestial bodies.

However, early on in the Hubble's mission, it became apparent that there were significant problems with the telescope's optics, which were causing images to come out blurry. Scientists soon discovered that the Hubble's main mirror had been ground incorrectly, leaving it with a tiny flaw that was making it impossible for the telescope to take clear pictures.

With the Hubble essentially useless in its current state, scientists began to look for solutions. They started by studying data from the telescope, trying to determine just how bad the problem with the mirror was. After months of analysis, they determined that the issue was significant but not insurmountable.

The next step was to come up with a plan to fix the problem. This proved to be a major challenge, as the telescope was in space and wasn't designed to be serviced by humans. Eventually, however, NASA engineers and astronauts came up with a plan to send a repair mission to the Hubble.

The repair mission was incredibly complex and dangerous, but it proved to be a success. Astronauts were able to replace a number of key components of the Hubble, including the flawed mirror, and the telescope was able to start taking clear, sharp images of the universe.

The rest of the episode explores some of the incredible images that the Hubble has captured over the years, revealing just how much our understanding of the universe has been transformed by this amazing piece of technology. From images of distant galaxies to close-ups of planets in our own solar system, the Hubble has given us a glimpse of a universe that was previously unseen and unimaginable.

Overall, "Hubble Trouble" is a fascinating look at one of the most important scientific instruments of our time. By exploring the challenges faced by the Hubble and the amazing images it has captured over the years, the episode highlights the incredible power of human ingenuity and the never-ending quest to unlock the secrets of the universe.