History of Space observatory

	Revision 4 . . November 30, 2001 12:27 pm by GregLindahl [details, details. What's this "Space Optical Telescope", I always heard it called the Space Telescope (ST) before it was renamed the Hubble.]
	Revision 3 . . November 30, 2001 12:16 pm by AstroNomer
	Revision 2 . . November 30, 2001 12:10 pm by Bryan Derksen [links and a little copyediting ("its" is posessive, "it's" is "it is")]
	Revision 1 . . November 30, 2001 12:02 pm by Wayne Hardman

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The Space Optical Telescope, now known as [Hubble Space Telescope]? (HST) is the optical Great Observatory. It was launched to great acclaim and soon after discovered to be flawed. Its main mirror contained imperfections in its grinding that resulted from a certain production limitation being accounted for twice. It has now been fitted with the equivalent of spectacles to compensate for this.

The Space Telescope (ST), now known as [Hubble Space Telescope]? (HST) is the optical Great Observatory. It was launched to great acclaim and soon after discovered to be flawed. Its main mirror contained imperfections in its grinding that resulted from a certain production limitation being accounted for twice. It has now been fitted with the equivalent of spectacles to compensate for this.

Changed: 11c10

The Gamma Ray Observatory, since renamed to The [Compton Gamma Ray observatory]? after several years of productive life had to be disposed of. Its gyroscope?s began to fail and when it was down to its last gyroscope, the choice was to risk losing control or destroying the observatory. NASA ditched the bus-sized satellite into the Pacific Ocean in 2000.

The Gamma Ray Observatory (GRO), since renamed to The [Compton Gamma Ray observatory]? after several years of productive life had to be disposed of. Its gyroscope?s began to fail and when it was down to its last gyroscope, the choice was to risk losing control or destroying the observatory. NASA ditched the bus-sized satellite into the Pacific Ocean in 2000.

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X-Rays are also represented in the Great Observatories, with the [Chandra X-Ray Telescope]?, named in honor of the great astrophysicist Chandrasekhar?. This has been used to great effect to study distant galaxies and is still operational.

X-Rays are also represented in the Great Observatories, with the [Chandra X-Ray Telescope]?, renamed (from AXAF) in honor of the great Indian astrophysicist Chandrasekhar?. This has been used to great effect to study distant galaxies and is still operational.

Changed: 21c20

Hipparcos? was a satellite for measuring parallax. It revised the [Cepheid variable star]? distance scale to great accuracy and has been invaluable for all branches of observational astronomy by furnishing scientists with extremely accurate "standard candles" for measuring distances.

Hipparcos? was a satellite for measuring parallax. Despite significant operational problems, it revised the [Cepheid variable star]? distance scale to great accuracy and has been invaluable for all branches of observational astronomy by furnishing scientists with extremely accurate "standard candles" for measuring distances.