With the iconic Hubble Space Telescope – NASA’s first space orbiting telescope - having completed two decades in orbit, NASA mission managers are of the opinion that the telescope has not only surpassed all scientific expectations, but has also given the humans a deeper understanding of the universe.

Though the Hubble has had its share of failures over the last twenty years – having suffered a critical mirror breakdown and shuttle tragedies that spell increased risk for repair and upgrade missions -, it has, nonetheless, stirred a modern-day obsession with deep space.

Launched aboard the Discovery space shuttle – piloted by the current NASA administrator Charles Bolden - on April 24, 1990; the Hubble telescope was deployed into orbit on April 25, 1990.

Noting that Hubble telescope has sent down some spectacular celestial images, astrophysicist Mario Livio – at the Baltimore-based Space Telescope Science Institute - said: “Hubble has gotten people interested in space and science related to the universe who never had any interest in this kind of science before. Hubble images have become a part of our culture.”

Meanwhile, the 20th anniversary of Hubble in space has been aptly commemorated by NASA with the release of a book – titled ‘Hubble: A Journey Through Space and Time’ - featuring the mind-blowing images captured by Hubble, which. As per NASA astronomers underline the scientific as well as societal impacts of the venerable telescope.