Today is Hubble's 15th birthday :):):). The Hubble Space Telescope is an optical telescope, orbiting the Earth at the outer reaches of the atmosphere. Launched in 1990, it is named after astronomer Edwin Hubble, who discovered the red-shifts in spectra of distant galaxies, which proved that the universe was indeed expanding. The Hubble is supposed to work till 2009, after which it should be replaced by the James Webb Space Telescope.

Spiral galaxy M51 or NGC-5194 (Courtesy: HubbleSite)The Hubble orbits the Earth once every 97 minutes, is 13.2 meters long, and weighs 11,000 kilograms. Over the last 15 years, it has brought us the universe, and has helped push the sciences of astrophysics and cosmology light years ahead. Currently plagued with various problems, including failing gyroscopes (devices that keep the Hubble properly oriented so as to be able to take sharp pictures with long exposure times), Hubble keeps going :).
I still remember the day when the Hubble was launched as part of the payload of the shuttle Discovery. Soon crippled due to a problematic mirror, the Hubble was heroically brought back to good health by a service mission (STS-61) in 1993. Further missions to Hubble in 1997 (STS-82), 1999 (STS-103) and 2002 (STS-109) constantly upgraded the telescope, and kept it in a great running condition :).
However, if nothing is done soon, Hubble is doomed :(. A mission, due to be in February 2005, was scrapped after the Columbia disaster. Limping on failing equipments, Hubble might finally undergo a deorbit, and be crashed in the Pacific Ocean in a fireball. Perhaps a fitting end to a fantastic equipment, that has photographed many a fireballs in space, and has expanded our understanding of the cosmos to new heights as never before.
Happy Birthday, Hubble. I wish you lived longer :(.