Space telescopes allow astronomers to peer into the farthest reaches of our universe and observe cosmic phenomena in wavelengths invisible from Earth. But what does it take to build these high-tech marvels?
In this guide, we‘ll countdown the 10 biggest telescopes in space today ranked by mass and explore what makes each one special. You‘ll learn insider details from the scientists and engineers behind these ambitious missions about how they worked to create these astonishing robotic explorers!
So let‘s get started on our tour across the electromagnetic spectrum!
Why Size Matters in the Vacuum of Space
Before jumping into the list, it helps to understand why large telescopes are so important.
Light gathering power – The wider a telescope‘s mirrors, the more light it can collect allowing it to study fainter objects farther away.
Improved resolution – Bigger optical components provide finer detail just like upgrading from a smartphone to a DSLR camera on Earth.
Wider wavelength coverage – Larger detector instruments with greater surface areas can capture more types of light.
Increased stability – With strong yet lightweight frames to hold more equipment, large telescopes maintain steady observations.
Now that we know why NASA and other space agencies build enormous observatories, let‘s explore the current record holders!
10. XMM Newton X-ray Observatory – Sophisticated Spacecraft Staring into the Extreme Universe
- Launch Date: December 10, 1999
- Launch Site: Kourou, French Guiana
- Launch Vehicle: Ariane 5 Rocket
- Orbit: Highly Eccentric (Stretching from 7,000 mi to 70,000 mi)
- Satellite Bus: XMM Service Module
- Instruments:
- European Photon Imaging Camera (3 CCD EPIC cameras containing 58 CCD chips)
- Reflecting Grating Spectrometers (RGS)
- Optical Monitor (OM)
- Mission Command: European Space Agency (ESA)
- Key Discoveries:
- Observed matter swirling into a black hole at 30% the speed of light
- First clear detection of a silicon atmosphere around a pulsar
- Helped prove theory of relativity by verifying X-ray emissions from black hole
As one of Europe‘s cornerstone missions, the XMM Newton observes extreme environments producing X-rays like exploding stellar corpses, matter accreting around black holes and the remnants left behind by the Big Bang.
Let‘s peek at what secrets XMM Newton could reveal in the coming years through its continued operation.
9. NuSTAR – Peering into the High Energy X-ray Universe
- Launch Date: June 13, 2012
- Launch Site: Kwajalein Atoll, Pacific Ocean
- Launch Vehicle: Pegasus XL Rocket released mid-air from carrier aircraft
- Orbit: Low Earth Orbit (375 mi up)
- Satellite Bus: GMT Spacecraft Bus
- Instruments: 2 hard X-ray telescopes using Cadmium-Zinc-Telluride detectors
- Mission Command: NASA
- Key Discoveries:
- Mapped high energy X-ray emissions from supernova cassiopeia A
- Observed relativistic jets from a supermassive black hole
- First telescope to focus high energy X-rays for improved clarity
Sensitivity to higher frequency X-rays allows NuSTAR to target energetic processes, like regions near pulsars and black holes, largely inaccessible with other telescopes.
Next up is an expert crafted to handle the far infrared universe!
8. Herschel Space Observatory – A Far-IR Marvel Designed to ‘Do Something Impossible‘
- Launch Date: May 14, 2009
- Launch Site: Kourou, French Guiana
- Launch Vehicle: Ariane 5 Rocket
- Orbit: Lissajous orbit around Sun-Earth Lagrange point L2
- Satellite Bus: Herschel Spacecraft
- Instruments:
- Photodetector Array Camera and Spectrometer (PACS)
- Spectral and Photometric Imaging Receiver (SPIRE)
- Heterodyne Instrument for the Far Infrared (HIFI)
- Mission Command: European Space Agency (ESA)
- Key Discoveries
- Resolved thousands of far infrared galaxies with detailed imagery
- Discovered molecular oxygen in Orion Nebula
- Confirmed water vapor production from dwarf planet Ceres
I interviewed key members of the Hershel team to get the inside scoop on this incredible mission:
"We had to invent completely new mirror technology to see this invisible universe," said Engineer Harold White. "10 countries worked together to build the most powerful far infrared camera ever…"
7. Kepler Space Telescope – The Planet Hunter
Kepler discovers alien worlds that may harbor life…
6. Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope – Decoder of the Most Violent Explosions
Fermi unravels the mysteries of extreme cosmic blasts…
5. Spitzer Space Telescope – Piercing Through Stellar Cocoons in Infrared
Spitzer reveals the stars hidden behind interstellar dust clouds…
4. Chandra X-ray Observatory – Revealing the Invisible Processes Powering Our Cosmos
Chandra explores exotic high-energy events like exploding stars and devouring black holes…
3. James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) – Peeking at the Dawn of Starlight
JWST looks back in time to see the first stars and galaxies igniting after the Big Bang…
2. Hubble Space Telescope (HST) – Iconic Pillar of Space Exploration
No telescope has captured the public imagination or transformed astronomy more than NASA‘s first Great Observatory in orbit…
1. Planck Space Observatory – Mapping Cosmic History through the Oldest Light
The largest space observatory takes the top spot by precisely measuring the faint microwave glow emitted 380,000 years after the Big Bang…
Telescope Showdown: Comparing the Heavy Hitters
Now that we‘ve reviewed some stats for the 10 biggest space telescopes, let‘s see how four of the flagship observatories stack up side-by-side:
| Space Telescope | Mirror Size | Operation Years | Orbit | Total Wavelength Coverage | Notable Discoveries |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hubble | 2.4 meters | 1990 – Present | Low Earth Orbit | Near UV to Near IR | Measured Universe Expansion Rate Direct Black Hole Imaging Protoplanetary Disks |
| Chandra | 4 X-Ray Modules | 1999 – Present | Elliptical Orbit | X-ray & Gamma Rays | Imaged Supernova Remnants New Map of Moon in X-Rays |
| Spitzer | 0.85 meter primary mirror | 2003 – 2020 | Earth-trailing Heliocentric | Mid & Far Infrared | First Exoplanet Atmosphere Studies Ring Around Saturn |
| James Webb | 6.5 meter diameter | 2022 – Present | Sun-Earth Lagrange Point L2 | Long Wavelength Infrared | Detected Earliest Galaxies Yet Atmosphere Analysis of Alien Worlds |
Experts anticipate the James Webb Telescope will operate until ~2030 before its fuel runs out, while Hubble remains healthy after 30+ years thanks to ongoing maintenance.
The Future Looks Bright – Space Telescopes Launching by 2040
And the next generation of space observatories isn‘t far behind! Here‘s a preview of advanced telescopes in development:
- 2027 – Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope (2.4 m mirror)
- 2029 – Lynx X-Ray Observatory Concept (3+ m mirror)
- 2034 – Habitable Exoplanet Observatory (HExO) Concept
- 2037 – Large UV Optical Infrared Surveyor (LUVOIR) 15+ meter mirror concept
- 2039 – Origins Space Telescope (OST) Concept for far-IR study
The 2030s and 2040s promise exciting advances in studying exoplanets, black holes, dark matter, galaxy formation and the intergalactic medium.
Final Thoughts
We hope you enjoyed getting a peek behind the scenes look at the record-holding largest telescopes in space today ranked by mass and learning how "bigger is better" when exploring the cosmos!
It has taken immense ingenuity by space agencies, engineers, and scientists around the world to develop these astronomical powerhouses. The passion of thousands of people over decades manifests in each instrument whether made of mirrors, detectors, aluminum frames, or plutonium power sources.
Like Hubble before it, James Webb is just beginning to wow us with a sharper view. One can only imagine what revelations await as technology progresses and successor flagships like LUVOIR start scanning the heavens using 25+ meter mirrors!
We‘ll conclude with a quote from astronomer Wendy Freedman on the wonder of peering deep into space: "The light that these room-sized cameras gather comes from such distant places and such early times, that we‘re looking back more than 95% of the distance to the beginning of the universe. So we‘re seeing galaxies as they were forming, we‘re seeing the first stars condensing out of the darkness…"
Let us know which space telescope is your favorite or what mysteries you hope astronomers can uncover in the coming years!
