Core Viewpoint - NASA celebrates the 35th anniversary of the Hubble Space Telescope, highlighting its significant contributions to space science and its ongoing relevance despite plans for a successor [4][6]. Group 1: Hubble's Achievements - Hubble has transformed human understanding of the universe, providing vivid images and numerous scientific breakthroughs since its launch in 1990 [4]. - The telescope has conducted nearly 1.7 million observations of approximately 55,000 astronomical targets, leading to over 22,000 published papers with more than 1.3 million citations [8]. - Hubble's unique ability to capture ultraviolet light allows it to observe celestial phenomena that ground-based telescopes cannot, achieving ten times the clarity of traditional ground-based observations [7]. Group 2: Current Status and Popularity - Despite being operational for 35 years, Hubble remains one of the most sought-after astronomical instruments, with the number of scientists applying for observation time being six times greater than the available slots [8]. - Hubble's data archive exceeds 400 terabytes, showcasing its extensive contributions to astronomical research [8]. Group 3: Future Considerations - Hubble is currently beyond its intended operational lifespan, with the last maintenance mission conducted 16 years ago, raising concerns about its future viability [9]. - NASA faces budget constraints, with funding expected to decrease significantly, complicating any potential maintenance or operational extension for Hubble [10].