How a 1997 shuttle mission transformed Hubble's vision of the deep universe

Space · Published 8 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In February 1997, NASA's STS-82 mission fundamentally upgraded the Hubble Space Telescope. By installing advanced new instruments, astronauts extended the observatory's reach into the near-infrared, allowing astronomers to peer through cosmic dust and observe the most distant reaches of the universe previously hidden from view.

Launched on February 11, 1997, aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery, Servicing Mission 2 (SM2) was a pivotal 10-day operation designed to enhance Hubble's scientific productivity. While the telescope's initial 1993 mission corrected its vision, SM2 focused on expanding its capabilities through the installation of sophisticated new hardware and the replacement of degraded components.

A centerpiece of the mission was the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS). Unlike previous spectrographs that could only analyze one location at a time, STIS utilized two-dimensional detectors. This leap in technology allowed the instrument to gather 500 times more spatial data and 30 times more spectral data than its predecessors. STIS enables scientists to analyze the chemical and physical properties of objects—such as temperature and motion—by separating light into its component wavelengths. It is also vital for studying supermassive black holes and detecting exoplanets by acting as a coronograph to block bright starlight.

The mission also introduced the Near Infrared Camera and Multi-Object Spectrometer (NICMOS). Hubble used NICMOS to peer through galactic dust clouds by capturing near-infrared light within the 0.8 to 2.5 micrometre range. This capability is essential because the expansion of the universe shifts light from distant objects toward longer, redder wavelengths. By capturing these infrared signals, Hubble can now observe star and planet formation and distant objects that were previously unreachable by optical or ultraviolet instruments.

The mission required intense precision, involving four planned spacewalks and an unscheduled fifth to repair the telescope's insulation. The seven-member crew, led by Commander Kenneth Bowersox and Pilot Scott Horowitz, managed a complex payload of science instruments and maintenance items to ensure the observatory's continued efficiency.

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