The Universe in a Mirror: The Saga of the Hubble Space Telescope and the Visionaries Who Built It by Robert Zimmerman

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Synopsis

"Spectacular images of the cosmos from the Hubble Space Telescope have become so routine that it's easy to forget the astronomical community's despair in 1990, when NASA discovered that the main mirror was improperly shaped. In The Universe in a Mirror, Robert Zimmerman brings the visionaries behind this most remarkable of instruments vividly to life, taking us artfully through the decades--long minefield of lobbying, funding, design, construction, delay after the Challenger explosion and launch--and then through the Hubble's near-death experience as astronomers realized to their horror that its mirror was ground to the wrong shape. His meticulously researched but engaging prose makes it clear how remarkable an achievement the telescope actually was, and how easily it might not have happened at all."--Michael D. Lemonick, contributing writer to Time and lecturer at Princeton University"For everyone who knows something of the story of the space telescope and its travails, this book provides a fascinating look behind the scenes. An excellent contribution to the history of technology."--Robert P. Kirshner, author of The Extravagant Universe"Quite a story. I really liked this book."--John Huchra, Harvard University"Zimmerman demonstrates the importance of vision, perseverance, politics, and good luck in getting this national telescope constructed, fixed, and operated. He also illustrates, somewhat poignantly at times, the human costs and disappointments that came up along the way."--J. Michael Shull, University of Colorado at Boulder

Biography

Robert Zimmerman is an award-winning science writer and historian whose work has appeared in "Natural History", the "Wall Street Journal", and "Astronomy", among other leading publications. His books include "Leaving Earth: Space Stations, Rival Superpowers, and the Quest for Interplanetary Travel" and "Genesis: The Story of Apollo 8".