Behind Hubble’s nearly 30 years of discoveries is a team of people, each member playing a critical role in the telescope’s success. Watch several discuss their roles on the Hubble project. (If this interactive video does not work, you may need to update or change your browser. See this video on YouTube.)

From the astronauts who fix Hubble to the developers who work on its software, from the scientists who study the data to the people who spread the word about its discoveries, the telescope is supported by people who traveled unique paths to join the Hubble adventure. Learn about their stories and find out how your skills could lead you to NASA.

Try things that are interesting and opportunities will open up, even if you can’t see them ahead of time.

Dr. Jennifer Wiseman

Dr. Jennifer Wiseman

Senior Project Scientist

If you're a student, you don't have to wait until after college graduation to find opportunities with NASA and Hubble! Every year, NASA employs hundreds of interns at the graduate, undergraduate, and even high school levels, offering a hands-on look at what it's like to work for us, including on the Hubble project. NASA offers internships for a plethora of different skills and interests; from assisting a scientist in conducting astronomy research, to working with software with computer programmers, to compiling statistics of social media accounts, there's sure to be a great fit for you. Use the links at the bottom of this page more about different types of opportunities and find available positions.

Paula Cain is one of the talented thermal blanket technicians who uses her skillful hands to correctly cover all sorts of spacefaring instruments.
NASA

Science

Every week, Hubble collects an average of 18 gigabytes of science data. Our Hubble scientists and astronomers analyze and study this data to understand the latest discoveries that Hubble has made of the universe we live in. If you love science, astronomy, physics, astrophysics, or instrumentation, you'll love working on the Hubble science team.

Field is filled with galaxies in colors of white, yellow, blue-white, and red; all on a black background.
Approximately 10,000 galaxies fill a small area of sky called the Hubble Ultra Deep Field. Created through the collaboration of 20 astronomers and scientists, this is the deepest image of the universe ever made at optical and near-infrared wavelengths.
NASA, ESA, S. Beckwith and the HUDF Team (STScI), and B. Mobasher (STScI)

Engineering

Hubble is made of 27,000 pounds of many different instruments, electronics, mechanisms, optics, and protective materials that work in tandem to create one powerful space telescope, which is expertly operated by adept engineers. In addition to engineering, math, and science prowess, engineers are highly valued for their excellent creativity and problem-solving skills, which are vital to any NASA mission's continued success. Hubble employs engineers in a variety of different fields, such as aerospace, mechanical, software, and electrical engineers.

Six people in white clean suits work on the underside of a replica of Hubble.
Astronauts, with the assistance of Hubble engineers, practice the replacement of a Rate Sensor Unit, a device that holds two gyroscopes, that are part of Hubble's pointing control system. Here they are seen replacing a unit in the High Fidelity Mechanical Simulator, a replica of Hubble's aft shroud, in a clean room at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. The Rate Sensor Unit, astronaut tool, and simulator were all engineered for the missions.
NASA / Michael Soluri

Management

The Hubble mission is managed by a small group of civil servants that have overall responsibility for the success of the mission. Their responsibilities not only include ensuring that all technical work and processes are complete and accurate, but also the day-to-day activities of procurements, staffing, budget, facilities, equipment, and communications.

In the background in a conference room, a man presents two charts on the screen at the front of the room for the meeting. In the foreground, men and women sit at a conference table with their laptops, listening to the man present.
Technical status meetings are held monthly with staff and management to discuss the performance of the Observatory and any issues regarding the flight and ground components of the mission.
NASA GSFC/P. Izzo

Business

The Hubble business team is responsible for all of the financials for the mission. This not only includes paying the bills, but also preparing the budget packages needed to secure the necessary money to run the project. They are also responsible for awarding and executing the two major contracts (mission operations and science operations), other associated contracts (e.g. communications), and a subset of the science grants.

A model of the Hubble telescope
A model of the Hubble Space Telescope docked with a space shuttle is displayed in the Space Telescope Operations Control Center at Goddard Space Flight Center. This photo was taken during the Hubble 25th anniversary social media event.
NASA/Debbie Mccallum

Software

A space telescope uses software in everything. From the processors inside Hubble's instruments, to the flight computer onboard the spacecraft, to the control center that issues commands, to the archive that stores its data, millions of lines of software are needed to make Hubble run. Having Hubble team members knowledgeable in computer software and programming is paramount to communicating properly and analyzing the information that it sends us. Computer programmers and software experts are in high demand in the technology industry, and NASA is no exception.

A person sits in dim lighting with their back to the camera, facing two computer monitors displaying data from Hubble.
Millions of lines of code make up the ground system for the Hubble Space Telescope, known as the Control Center System (CCS). Here, CCS is used to display data returned from the spacecraft to confirm that the Hubble has switched modes as commanded and is operating as expected during a carefully planned and executed transition on September 11, 2019. The telescope had just been converted to a new way of using its gyroscopes to keep the spacecraft steady to compensate for a gyroscope that was not behaving normally. CCS is used for this and all other aspects of Hubble’s mission operations.
NASA/Rebecca Roth

Space Operations

Floating at about 340 miles above the Earth and made up of many different parts, it's only natural that Hubble would need frequent supervision to ensure everything is working properly. Our space operations crew directly communicates with Hubble from the ground at Goddard Space Flight Center, and are capable problem solvers who can remain cool under pressure and adapt on the fly to handle any unexpected problems or situations that may arise.

Man at computer desk with many screens working on Hubble
On June 16, 2020, Justin Germany (front) and Larry Stake (back) of the Flight Operations Team command the Hubble Space Telescope spacecraft while social distancing and wearing masks. Although the operations for the spacecraft are highly automated, on this day a special test was being conducted that required manual commanding.
NASA/Rebecca Roth

Information Systems

Computers and networks are a critical part of the Hubble mission and ground system. Additional custom hardware that simulates the spacecraft is also an integrated part of the mission operations. Our team of information technology experts keep this equipment operating and secure to ensure the safe operations of the observatory.

A man examines a shelf of computer hardware.
Hubble control center, engineering, and simulation hardware include hundreds of computers that all require maintenance and system administration.
NASA

Communications

Hubble's countless exciting and groundbreaking discoveries are not meant to be limited to scientists and astronomers alone. As a government organization, NASA considers it essential to have teams of enthusiastic, knowledgeable, personable communicators to share the exciting revelations of its many missions and projects with the world. Through press releases, engaging videos, take-home materials, social media posts, and outreach events, the Hubble communications team revels in spreading the word of the telescope's amazing work to the general public.

Ten outreach team members standing and sitting posing in front of a scaled model of the Hubble Space Telescope.
The Hubble communications and outreach team ensures the public is up to date on Hubble discoveries and other mission news.
NASA/Rob Andreoli
The Impact of Public Outreach: Stephanie Clark’s experiences as the Hubble Outreach Coordinator highlight the crucial role that public outreach plays in spreading Hubble’s discoveries to the world.