The Hubble Space Telescope is the largest astronomical telescope ever sent into space. It was launched in 1990 from Space Shuttle Discovery on the STS-31 mission. From its vantage point high above Earth's obscuring atmosphere, the telescope is providing astronomers with fascinating new information on the state of the universe.

The Hubble Space Telescope was designed to be delivered into orbit by the Space Shuttle and to be serviced periodically in space by Shuttle astronauts. The first servicing and repair mission was conducted in 1993 by the crew of STS-61 on Space Shuttle Endeavour.

This full-size test vehicle was used from 1972 to 1985 at the Lockheed Missiles and Space Company in Sunnyvale, California, during the development of the Hubble Space Telescope. It resembles the actual telescope in size and basic structure, but it is not intended for use in space.

The test vehicle has been refurbished twice. For an earlier exhibit, the Museum restored its configuration for structural dynamic tests. In 1996 thermal blankets, antennas, and other features were added to depict the telescope's appearance in space.