Mint Stamps Picture the Hubble Space Telescope

The six stamps on this sheet commemorate 50 years of space exploration and satellites.  Images of the Hubble Space Telescope highlight each stamp.

The telescope was launched into low Earth orbit in 1990.  Named for astronomer Edwin Hubble, its high-resolution images have taught scientists a lot about deep space.  Hubble is the largest space telescope ever launched and the only one designed to be serviced by astronauts.  Several Space Shuttle missions have repaired and upgraded systems on the telescope. 

With a resolution nearly 20 times that of ordinary ground-based telescopes, Hubble returns amazing images from the furthest reaches of our universe. The huge instrument can “see” the cosmos clearer than land-based telescopes because of its position above Earth’s image-distorting atmosphere. In fact, it’s said that the power is so strong – and the resolution so sharp – that it’s like seeing a pair of fireflies in Tokyo while standing in Maryland. Hubble has proven the existence of black holes, captured a comet’s collision with Jupiter, and taken the first images of Pluto and its satellite, Charon.

Add this important space history to your collection – order now.