How the Hubble Space Telescope Changed the World FriendsofNASA.org: Happy 34th Birthday, Hubble! Did you know that the Hubble Space Telescope has not only expanded our understanding of the universe, it has impacted innovations here on Earth? From enhancing illness detection imagery to tracking endangered species, Hubble has helped shape our lives and society. The Hubble Space Telescope (often referred to as HST or Hubble) is a space telescope that was launched into low Earth orbit in 1990 and re