American Innovation $1 coin – Maryland

It is 30 years since the Hubble Space Telescope’s voyage into space. What was originally meant for 15 years has been working tirelessly for double the time to decode the mysteries of the universe. This year the American Innovation coin from Maryland honors the Hubble Space Telescope, whose observations led to many breakthroughs in the field of astrophysics.

Every year till 2033, the U.S. mint will release 4 coins honoring the spirit of American Innovation. These will depict the ‘Statue of Liberty’ design on the obverse and a new reverse design for each coin every year to honor an innovation from each state or territory.

Hubble Space telescope- The story

From the time the first telescopes were discovered, the early astrophysicists had to contend with the distortion that the earth’s atmosphere caused. It made stars twinkle and blurred visible light. For this reason, some of the bigger telescopes have been placed on observatories atop mountains away from city lights to get a clearer view of the heavens. But a space telescope would provide an unhindered view. A completely clear window to the wonders of the universe!

Though the idea of a telescope in space had been in existence from 1923, when Hermann Oberth, Father of modern rocketry spoke about a telescope propelled to space using a rocket, only the 60’s started seeing some serious effort for a space telescope. That was when, NASA launched the Orbital Astronomical Observatories (OAOs), precursors to the ‘Large Space Telescope’ Project.

NASA’s space programs saw huge budget cuts and the LST project was no exception. The telescope was downsized as a result. The European Space Agency provided fifteen percent financial support to NASA in the 70’s and European astronomers were in turn promised fifteen percent telescope time. NASA used the services of different organizations to build the different equipment needed, like the Perkin-Elmer Corporation that developed the Optical Telescope assembly and the Fine Guidance sensors; the Lockheed Missiles and Space Company did the outer structure of the spacecraft and the Support system module.

By 1985, the telescope was ready for launch and it was named the ‘Hubble Space Telescope’ project, after Edwin Hubble, the American astronomer. On April 24, 1990, after innumerable delays and updates to its equipment, the space shuttle Discovery carrying the telescope, lifted off. The next day, the Hubble Space telescope was sent into orbit. The telescope was serviced quite a few times while in orbit, another marvelous feat by astronomers. The Hubble Space telescope has contributed enormously to our understanding of the cosmos like nothing else has.

The Design

The reverse design depicts the Hubble Space Telescope orbiting the Earth surrounded by a field of stars. The obverse design features a dramatic representation of the Statue of Liberty in profile. Inscriptions are "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA," "THE HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE," and "MARYLAND."