Space Telescope Science Institute facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Space Telescope Science Institute

Established	1981
Location	Johns Hopkins University , Baltimore , Maryland , United States
Coordinates	39°19′58″N 76°37′24″W / 39.33278°N 76.62333°W / 39.33278; -76.62333

The Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) is a special center that helps run some of the most famous space telescopes. It manages the science for the Hubble Space Telescope (HST), and both the science and mission operations for the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). Soon, it will also do the science operations for the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope.

STScI was started in 1981. It works for NASA and is run by a group called the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA). You can find STScI's offices in Baltimore, Maryland, on the Johns Hopkins University Homewood Campus and in the Rotunda building.

Besides working with Hubble, Webb, and Roman, STScI also runs the Mikulski Archive for Space Telescopes (MAST). This huge archive stores data from many space missions. It includes data from telescopes like Kepler, TESS, and Gaia.

Most of STScI's money comes from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. They also get some funding from NASA's Ames Research Center, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and the European Space Agency (ESA).

The team at STScI includes many different experts. There are scientists, like astronomers and astrophysicists, and engineers who work on spacecraft and software. They also have people who manage data, teach the public about space, and handle business tasks. In 2021, about 850 people worked at STScI. Around 200 of them are scientists with Ph.D.s.

STScI helps NASA and astronomers around the world. They also share amazing discoveries with everyone. They help astronomers use the telescopes and get grants for their research. They also share data from other space missions through MAST. STScI creates and updates the computer programs needed to do all this. Their public outreach team creates resources for media, museums, and anyone interested in space. STScI also advises NASA on space topics related to visible and ultraviolet light.

The STScI team talks with astronomers in many ways. They go to big meetings like the American Astronomical Society events. They also publish newsletters and update their website. They host special groups and workshops each year. This helps them share information and make sure the telescopes are used in the best way.

How STScI Helps Space Telescopes

This section explains the main things STScI does to help space telescopes.

Choosing Science Projects

STScI handles everything needed to pick and schedule science projects for the Hubble Space Telescope. Each year, they ask scientists to send in ideas for what Hubble should observe. This is called the Call for Proposals. Anyone can submit an idea.

A group of about 100 expert astronomers, called the Time Allocation Committee (TAC), reviews all the ideas. They look at 700 to 1100 proposals each year. Only about 15-20% of these ideas get chosen. STScI provides all the support for this important process.

The Muller Building at the Space Telescope Science Institute

Scientists whose projects are chosen are called General Observers (GOs). They then give STScI detailed plans for their observations. These plans tell STScI exactly how to use the telescope. STScI provides special online tools called Exposure Time Calculators. These tools help GOs figure out how much time their observations will need. STScI staff then prepares everything for each project. They find guide stars, check for bright objects, and make sure all special requests are met.

Planning Telescope Observations

Once STScI has all the project details, they create a yearly plan for the telescope. They find the best times to schedule each observation. This makes sure the telescope is used effectively all year long. Detailed weekly schedules are also made. For Hubble, this includes planning how data will be sent to Earth using the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS).

They can also change plans quickly for unexpected events. This includes things like supernovae (exploding stars) or comet impacts. STScI uses a smart computer method called the Min-conflicts algorithm to schedule observations. They are setting up similar plans for JWST. However, JWST's operations will be different because it is much farther away from Earth. Hubble orbits Earth at about 565 km, while JWST is about 1.5 million km away.

Running Telescope Operations

Flight Operations means directly supporting and watching over Hubble's functions in real-time. This includes sending commands to the telescope about 4 times a day. They also receive data from Hubble about 10 times a day. The team constantly checks the telescope's health and safety. This work is done 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Hubble's flight operations happen at NASA's GSFC in Greenbelt, Maryland.

Processing Science Data

Science data from Hubble arrives at STScI a few hours after being sent down from space. At STScI, computers process the data. They change its format into a standard one called FITS (Flexible Image Transport System). They also fix any missing data and clean it up. This cleaning process removes problems caused by the instruments. Each Hubble instrument has its own cleaning steps. These steps make sure the data is accurate and shows exactly where the telescope was pointing in the sky. STScI is also working on similar processes for Kepler and JWST data.

Storing and Sharing Science Data

All Hubble science data is saved forever after it's processed. For the first year, only the original scientists who asked for the data can access it. After that year, anyone can get the data. When someone gets data from the archive, it's automatically re-cleaned using the latest methods.

STScI is the main place for all of NASA's visible and ultraviolet space mission data. Besides Hubble data, STScI also stores data from 13 other missions. These include the International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) and the Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX). Kepler and JWST data will also be stored here. You can access the data archives online at http://archive.stsci.edu. The archive holds over 30 terabytes of data. Each day, about 11 gigabytes of new data are added. About 85 gigabytes of data are sent out to users daily.

Checking and Calibrating Instruments

STScI is in charge of making sure the instruments on Hubble and JWST work correctly in space. Each year, they create a plan to calibrate Hubble's instruments. This plan helps support the chosen science projects. It also makes sure the instruments work well throughout their lifetime. The calibration program includes taking measurements using on-board tools. They also observe special "standard stars" to make sure the light measurements are accurate.

About 5-10% of Hubble's observing time is used for calibration. More time is needed when an instrument is new. Hubble has had 12 science instruments in total. Six of them are still active. Two new instruments were added in 2009 during a servicing mission. Some broken instruments were also fixed during that mission. The table below lists all 12 Hubble instruments and the 4 planned for JWST. Hubble's instruments can see light from ultraviolet to near infrared. JWST's instruments will see light from red optical wavelengths to mid-infrared. Instruments listed as "Decommissioned" are no longer on the telescope.

STScI staff writes the calibration plans and analyzes the data they get. This helps them create updated files for processing telescope data. All calibration work is written down and shared online.

STScI also studies how the instruments perform. This helps users understand their data better. They look for things that aren't automatically fixed, like "ghosts" in images. These can be caused by light scattering inside an instrument.

The STScI team also checks and adjusts the telescope itself. For Hubble, they mainly make sure the focus is correct. For JWST, they will use a special system to adjust the telescope's segmented mirrors.

Help After Observations

STScI has a HelpDesk for users. Scientists can contact them with any questions. This includes how to submit a project idea or how to analyze their data.

Helping the Science Community

STScI runs big science projects for the astronomy community. These projects have wide-ranging scientific uses. Examples include the Hubble Deep Field (HDF) and the Ultra Deep Field (UDF). The data from these projects is made available to astronomers almost immediately. Many scientists have used this data for their own research.

Developing Ground Systems

STScI builds and maintains most of the computer systems used to run Hubble. These systems have been updated many times over Hubble's life. They now work together more smoothly. They have also been updated to support new instruments installed on the telescope. STScI also provides some of these services to other missions like Kepler and JWST. STScI's software engineers manage about 7.9 million lines of computer code!

Supporting Mission Development

STScI works with NASA and other engineers to plan how missions will work. For Hubble, this means helping decide what repairs and upgrades to do during servicing missions. For JWST, they help define the main science goals and how the mission will be set up. In both cases, STScI focuses on the mission's scientific abilities. They also make sure the observatory can be operated smoothly and efficiently.

Scientific Research at STScI

STScI manages the Hubble Fellowship Program. Since 1990, these fellowships have supported talented young scientists. Their research is connected to the Hubble Space Telescope's science goals. In 2009, it joined with the Spitzer Fellowship. Now, it supports research related to several missions. These include the Herschel Space Observatory, Hubble, James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA), and the Spitzer Space Telescope. The research can involve theory, observations, or building instruments. Each year, about 8 to 16 fellowships are given out.

STScI also has a summer intern program for college students. Students from all over the world work with STScI scientists. This gives them hands-on experience in modern astronomy research. STScI's full-time scientists also do their own research. They study things like our Solar System, finding exoplanets, how stars form, how galaxies change, and the history of the universe. STScI hosts a science meeting each spring and other smaller workshops. Having active scientists at STScI helps make sure Hubble, and later JWST, work at their very best.

Sharing Discoveries with Everyone

STScI's Office of Public Outreach (OPO) creates many things to share the science and discoveries of Hubble, JWST, Roman, and astronomy in general with the public. OPO focuses on helping the media, informal education places (like museums), and the general public.

OPO creates about 40 new press releases each year about Hubble's discoveries. These include news stories, Hubble images, drawings, animations, and extra information. OPO also takes part in press conferences for big discoveries. They also hold workshops for science writers.

Besides news releases, OPO makes many astronomy-related things for the public. These include articles, telescope pictures, illustrations, videos, and interactive tools. Most of these are shared on websites managed by STScI. These include Hubblesite, Webbtelescope, ViewSpace, and Illuminated Universe. Content is also shared on social media like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

OPO also does live events in person and online. They have a regular Public Lecture Series. They also attend local and national STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) events. OPO helps museums and science centers with printed materials and program ideas. OPO works with the Hubble, Webb, and Roman mission offices. They also partner with other groups under NASA's Universe of Learning.