Brian Rantala, Space & Mission Systems Communications

From the Hubble Space Telescope to the Habitable Worlds Observatory of tomorrow, our innovative technologies are delivering results for NASA.

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Are we alone in the universe? How were stars and galaxies formed? How is the cosmos evolving?

These are fundamental questions for NASA and its team of scientists, engineers, and astronauts. BAE Systems has been helping to find answers to these cosmic queries for decades through our work on some of the administration’s most important spacecraft and instruments, and we’re continuing to innovate and create technologies that will define the astrophysics observatories of tomorrow.

Our team has worked side-by-side with NASA since the launch of the Hubble Space Telescope into low-Earth orbit more than 35 years ago. From developing a first-generation instrument (GHRS) for the telescope’s 1990 launch to building the corrective optics (COSTAR) that made it what it is today, our team has allowed Hubble to keep discovering.

It’s dedicated team members like Jeanette Domber, a Payload Systems technical fellow and 20-year BAE Systems employee, that are helping to lead the way.

“Working on the Hubble Space Telescope program has been the highlight of my career,” said Domber. “Hubble is iconic, and it has allowed me to work directly with astronauts through our servicing missions.”

In addition to GHRS and COSTAR, BAE Systems built five more second (ACS, STIS, NICMOS) and third generation (COS, WFC3) instruments for Hubble and helped to repair two instruments through multiple service missions.

Some of the service missions proved extremely challenging, according to Domber, but some of the most rewarding work.

“Hubble was designed to be serviced,” said Domber. “However, when ACS and STIS electronics needed repair, it was like performing open heart and brain surgery in space. We replaced parts that were never meant to be replaced.”

Jeanette on the launch pad with Space Shuttle Atlantis, wearing a Hubble Space Telescope Servicing Mission 4 shirt at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center launch complex.

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Over its decades of service, the Hubble program has made incredible discoveries and provided high-resolution observations of the universe over a wide range of the electromagnetic spectrum. With more than 1.4 million observations, Hubble has enabled more than 16,000 scientific papers, making it one of the most productive scientific instruments ever built.

This spirit of discovery and innovation continues through our relationship with NASA. Since Hubble, we’ve contributed to other astrophysics observatories like the Spitzer Space Telescope , the Chandra X-ray Observatory and the James Webb Space Telescope, allowing our team to serve as a key partner for NASA program success.

Looking ahead, our mission-driven team is already working on some of NASA’s biggest upcoming expeditions. BAE Systems built the primary instrument (Wide Field Instrument) for the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, scheduled to launch later this year, and is developing candidate technologies to help mature options for the Habitable Worlds Observatory.

The Habitable Worlds Observatory is a NASA mission concept in the early stages of development and is focused on imaging Earth-like planets orbiting other stars and searching them for signs of life.

“We will be able to apply our evolving expertise and architecture options to inform the Habitable Worlds Observatory that we have gained through Hubble, Webb and other programs,” said Domber. “It is exciting to address the question of ‘Are we alone in the universe?’”

Did you know?

BAE Systems built seven science instruments for the Hubble Space Telescope that have helped scientists reveal secrets of the universe. These include:

Goddard High Resolution Spectrograph (GHRS), launched on Hubble in 1990, it was designed to detect ultraviolet light, allowing the detailed study of stars, galaxies and planets.

Corrective Optics Space Telescope Axial Replacement (COSTAR) helped to correct Hubble’s hazy vision.

Near Infrared Camera and Multi-Object Spectrometer (NICMOS) and Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS) were installed during Servicing Mission 2. These instruments enabled infrared imaging of distant galaxies and the search for black holes.

Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS), installed during Servicing Mission 3 in 2002 doubled Hubble’s field of view with sharper image quality and more sensitive detectors.

Cosmic Origins Spectrograph (COS) and the Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3), installed during Servicing Mission 4 in 2009, updated Hubble’s visible and ultraviolet light imagers for higher performance.

Join our team

Looking to work with leaders like Domber to help to answer these questions?

From designing and implementing telescope components, to planning service missions in orbit, our team will continue to deliver solutions for complex NASA astrophysics platforms that enhance understanding of our universe and galaxies.

Explore our careers website to find rewarding positions on our Space & Mission Systems team and see how your talent connects with our mission today. Don’t forget to join our talent community to set up job alerts, connect with our talent acquisition team, and receive career news and stories from BAE Systems.