History and Timeline

We are the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, Maryland, operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy. We help humanity explore the universe with advanced space telescopes and ever-growing data archives.

Established in 1981, we have helped guide the most famous observatory in history, the Hubble Space Telescope.  Since its launch in 1990, we have performed the science operations for Hubble. We also lead the science and mission operations for the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), which launched on December 25, 2021. We will perform parts of the science operations for the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, in formulation for launch in late 2026, and we are partners on several other NASA missions. Our staff conducts world-class scientific research; our Barbara A. Mikulski Archive for Space Telescopes (MAST) curates and disseminates data from over 20 astronomical missions; and we bring science to the world through internationally recognized news, education, and public outreach programs. We value our diverse workforce and civility in the workplace, and seek to be an example for others to follow.

Core Values

  • SERVICE

    service
    We serve the science community and the public in their endeavors to explore and understand the universe.
  • INTEGRITY

    integrity
    We commit to fostering an environment of honesty, respect, inclusiveness, trust, and ethical behavior.
  • LEGACY

    legacy
    We build on our achievements by laying the foundations for the next generation of astronomy space missions.
  • EXCELLENCE

    excellence
    We enable the extraordinary in our missions by leveraging the skills of our diverse staff.

Our Strategic Goals

Leadership and Staff

Getting to Know STScI

Collage of artistic illustrations of several telescopes and the MAST logo on a starry background

Our Missions

We continue to expand the frontiers of space astronomy.

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History of the Institute

Learn why STScI was created and how our missions and scientific contributions have evolved with each new mission we support.

Discover

Edwin Hubble at the Wilson Observatory

Travel Through Time

Explore the role STScI has played in the history of space exploration, from Hubble’s conception and launch to major discoveries in the field of astronomy.

Explore

Baltimore map

Explore Our Locations

The Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) is a campus of offices in Baltimore, Maryland.

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