Free levelled English reading practice. Read for meaning first, then use the full Speed Reading tool to time yourself and track your progress.
The Hubble Space Telescope was launched into orbit in 1990. Because it operates above most of Earth's atmosphere, it can observe space without the blurring that affects many ground-based telescopes. Hubble was designed as a powerful scientific instrument, but soon after launch astronomers discovered that its main mirror had been made with a tiny error. The telescope could still work, but its images were not as sharp as expected. In 1993, astronauts visited Hubble aboard the Space Shuttle and installed equipment that corrected the problem. Later servicing missions repaired and upgraded the telescope. Hubble has since produced detailed images of planets, stars, galaxies and nebulae. Its observations have helped scientists measure the expansion of the universe, study distant galaxies and investigate how stars are born and die. Hubble's success also demonstrated the value of designing complex space equipment that could be serviced after launch.
Comprehension questions
When was Hubble launched?
Why can it get clear views from orbit?
What problem was discovered after launch?
How was the problem corrected?
Name one area of science Hubble has helped investigate.
