1990 Hubble Space Telescope

1990: Launch of the Hubble Space Telescope by the shuttle Discovery. Delayed by four years following the Challenger tragedy, this mission revolutionised astronomy by observing the Universe from space, free from any atmospheric interference. This allowed for the measurement of the expansion of the Universe with unprecedented precision.

Image credits : catalog.archives.gov

24-04-2026

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1970 Apollo 13 - 2006 Venus Express

1970: The launch of NASA's third lunar mission turns into a technological nightmare following the explosion of an oxygen tank. Exploration gives way to an unprecedented race against time. By using the Lunar Module as an improvised lifeboat, the engineers and crew achieved the most spectacular rescue of the space age, transforming a looming disaster into a triumph of human will.

2006: Belgian expertise conquers the "Evening Star". The Venus Express probe begins its orbital mission. On board, the SOIR instrument—designed and operated by the Royal Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy (BIRA-IASB)—is poised to unlock the secrets of the Venusian atmosphere. A major achievement for the researchers of the Uccle plateau.

Image credits : nasa.gov

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1990 Hubble Space Telescope

1970 Apollo 13 - 2006 Venus Express

Planetarium

Royal Observatory of Belgium

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