Historical Organization
European Space Agency
European Space Agency
Details
Organization Timeline
Hubble Space Telescope launches
📅 24 April 1990The telescope lifted off aboard space shuttle Discovery for an orbit above Earth’s atmosphere.
A space observatory begins its journey
📅 24 April 1990Hubble’s launch created a platform for observing the universe without most atmospheric distortion.
Astronomy receives a serviceable orbital telescope
📅 24 April 1990Hubble was designed so astronauts could later repair and upgrade it.
An international astronomy project reaches orbit
📅 24 April 1990NASA and ESA contributed to the space telescope, whose deployment occurred the next day.
James Webb Space Telescope launches
📅 25 December 2021The infrared observatory lifted off on an Ariane 5 rocket from French Guiana.
Three space agencies begin a shared observatory mission
📅 25 December 2021NASA, ESA and CSA collaborated on the telescope and its scientific instruments.
An infrared telescope begins its journey
📅 25 December 2021The launch sent Webb toward its distant observing location near the Sun–Earth L2 point.
Webb starts a months-long commissioning period
📅 25 December 2021After launch, the observatory still had to unfold, align and calibrate before routine science.
Webb’s First Deep Field is unveiled
📅 11 July 2022A composite image of galaxy cluster SMACS 0723 was shown publicly.
Gravitational lensing fills a deep image
📅 11 July 2022The image shows arcs of distant galaxies magnified by foreground cluster mass.
An infrared view reaches faint galaxies
📅 11 July 2022Webb’s first public deep field demonstrated the power of its near-infrared camera.
A space telescope shows the distant universe
📅 11 July 2022The image combined many exposures taken before its unveiling; the date marks public release.
Webb releases its first image collection
📅 12 July 2022The public release presented several targets after the previous evening’s single deep-field unveiling.
A stellar nursery appears in infrared light
📅 12 July 2022The collection included the Cosmic Cliffs in the Carina Nebula.
A planetary nebula displays dying-star structures
📅 12 July 2022Webb’s release included infrared views of the Southern Ring Nebula.
A distant planet receives an atmospheric spectrum
📅 12 July 2022The first suite included spectroscopic results for an exoplanet, alongside images of galaxies and nebulae.