The camera that saved Hubble's vision is retiring

Space · Published 22 October 2026 · Updated 22 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: When Hubble first launched, it suffered a critical vision problem that threatened its entire mission. A secondary instrument stepped in to save the day, becoming the observatory's workhorse for over 15 years. Now, that prolific camera is preparing for its final sunset.

The Wide Field and Planetary Camera 2 (WFPC2) served as the primary imaging tool for the Hubble Space Telescope for more than 15 years. Its installation was a pivotal moment in space exploration; it effectively corrected the 'vision problem' that plagued Hubble's original camera, allowing the observatory to fulfill its scientific potential. Because of this reliability, WFPC2 became the most prolific instrument in the telescope's history. The instrument was transported back to Earth during a specific mission involving the Space Shuttle Atlantis. This transition occurred after the camera provided over a decade and a half of essential data. Its role was fundamental to the telescope's success as a primary imaging tool.

The camera's journey concludes with a final 'pretty picture' of a planetary nebula. This celestial structure is formed when a star dies and expels its outer layers into space. The image serves as a poetic bookend to the instrument's career, capturing the literal death of a star as the camera itself is decommissioned. The specific nebula captured in this final shot is identified as K4-55. This image was taken on May 4. It represents the very last visual data produced by this specific hardware before its retirement.

Hubble's longevity is a testament to its unique design, which allowed astronauts to repair and upgrade the observatory with advanced technology. Our perspective on the cosmos has been radically altered by this joint venture involving the European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA, which debuted in 1990. While WFPC2 returns to Earth aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis, the telescope continues to operate, recently marking milestones such as completing 200,000 orbits around our planet. The observatory is currently at the forefront of modern astronomy. It continues to provide views of cosmic wonders that were previously unseen. The project remains a major international collaboration between NASA and the European Space Agency.

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