Before NASA produced the James Webb Space Telescope as the largest and most powerful telescope, there was the Hubble Space Telescope, which has helped unlock secrets of the universe for more than 30 years.
As the Webb Space Telescope reveals more about the universe than ever before, it builds on the discoveries of Hubble, which continues its orbit around Earth. A new traveling exhibit unveiled on Feb. 11 at INFINITY Science Center, the official visitor center of NASA’s Stennis Space Center, helps visitors learn more about the operation and impact of both space-based observatories.
The Hubble Traveling Exhibit, a 2,200-square-foot exhibit, arrived at INFINITY on Feb. 10 and was unveiled to visitors during a Feb. 11 opening. The exhibit is designed to engage visitors in the “magnificence and mystery of the Hubble mission” and introduce them to the new Webb telescope. The exhibit compares the telescopes and highlights some of the key differences between them.
The attraction features a scale model of Hubble, along with several satellite units that provide viewers with a hands-on experience of the same technology that allows Hubble to gaze at distant galaxies and the universe. In addition to learning about the life and history of Hubble, visitors will understand more about the challenges Hubble faced following its launch in 1990 and the role astronauts played in ensuing years to repair and service the orbiting satellite.
The Hubble Traveling Exhibit can be experienced until Sept. 10 at the INFINITY Science Center, which is located in Pearlington, Mississippi, adjacent to NASA Stennis, and is open Sunday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
