The Space Telescope Science Institute sits in Baltimore, Maryland, and serves as NASA’s main astronomy research center. Since 1981, the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA) has managed this place, steering space-based astronomy for decades.
NASA set up STScI in 1981 as a community-focused science hub. The team got started even before the Hubble Space Telescope launched in 1990.
STScI acts as the science operations center for three major NASA missions. The institute manages Hubble and leads both science and mission operations for the James Webb Space Telescope.
It’s also handling science operations for the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, which is coming up soon.
The main mission? Help humanity explore the universe using powerful space telescopes.
STScI keeps growing its data archives, storing results from over 20 astronomical missions in the Barbara A. Mikulski Archive for Space Telescopes.
Core responsibilities include:
STScI works out of a dedicated campus in Baltimore, Maryland. You’ll find it close to Johns Hopkins University, which makes collaboration with academic researchers pretty convenient.
The Baltimore site gives STScI some strategic perks for telescope operations. The institute has offices and research spaces built for handling complex astronomical data.
Key facilities support:
The Maryland base lets STScI staff team up with university partners and NASA folks. They’ve built a central hub for space science right there.
AURA operates STScI under a contract with NASA. This setup lets academic institutions actually run space telescope science operations—pretty unique, right?
AURA brings together universities to back up astronomical research. They handle oversight while NASA provides funding and sets mission goals.
Partnership benefits include:
This model’s worked for decades and keeps both NASA’s exploration goals and the wider research community moving forward.
STScI runs the science operations for NASA’s top space telescopes. The institute organizes everything—scheduling, data handling, and keeping archives for these flagship missions.
STScI is the main science operations center for three huge space telescopes. Since 1990, Hubble has depended on STScI for all its scientific work.
The James Webb Space Telescope joined the roster when it launched in December 2021.
STScI will also handle science operations for the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope after its 2026 launch. Each mission gets a specialized team to handle telescope time and observation schedules.
Core science operations include:
The staff work around the clock to keep these space missions running. They connect with astronomers worldwide who submit observation proposals.
The Barbara A. Mikulski Archive for Space Telescopes holds data from over 20 missions.
STScI takes care of full mission operations for JWST and shares HST operations with NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. Mission operations focus on the nuts and bolts—making sure the telescopes keep working in orbit.
Mission control teams keep an eye on spacecraft health and status. They send commands to adjust pointing or tweak instrument settings.
When something goes wrong, these teams jump in to troubleshoot and fix things.
Key mission operations tasks:
STScI works closely with NASA centers to keep the telescopes up and running. Teams have to react fast—sometimes within hours—to keep missions on track.
They also plan long-term maintenance for aging systems.
STScI shares its expertise with other NASA space missions. Years of running space telescopes have taught the institute a lot, and they pass that knowledge along.
They develop software tools used by different missions to process astronomical data. STScI also helps train other telescope teams.
Ground-based programs benefit from STScI’s data processing know-how. The institute shares best practices for observation and analysis.
Research teams worldwide tap into STScI’s expertise through collaborations.
STScI partners with international space agencies too, expanding its reach in global space telescope science.
The Space Telescope Science Institute operates science missions for two of NASA’s biggest space observatories. These telescopes work together to study stars, galaxies, and how galaxies change over time, each using different wavelengths of light.
STScI has managed Hubble’s science operations since its 1990 launch. The institute handles everything for the Hubble Space Telescope, from planning to data processing.
Scientists send in research proposals all year. STScI reviews thousands and picks the most promising ones.
These programs dive into star formation, galaxy evolution, and planetary science.
Key Hubble programs include:
STScI coordinates with astronomers everywhere to make these observations happen. Program Coordinators work with researchers to schedule time and keep data quality high.
The Mikulski Archive for Space Telescopes stores all Hubble’s data at STScI. This archive holds over 30 years of observations—scientists still use it for new discoveries.
The James Webb Space Telescope launched in December 2021, taking on the role of NASA’s next flagship astrophysics mission. STScI manages both science and mission ops for this powerful infrared observatory.
JWST observes in infrared, letting it peer through cosmic dust and spot the earliest galaxies. The telescope can detect light from stars and galaxies over 13 billion years old.
STScI scientists help plan JWST observations using its four advanced instruments. These tools analyze exoplanet atmospheres and study how the first galaxies formed.
The institute processes all JWST data and shares it with the global science community. Early results have already revealed new details about galaxy formation and stellar evolution.
STScI coordinates James Webb Space Telescope programs that study everything from nearby planets to the farthest galaxies. JWST’s infrared vision complements Hubble’s optical view, giving us a fuller picture of cosmic evolution.
The Space Telescope Science Institute will run science operations for the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, launching in late 2026. STScI coordinates mission planning and manages advanced instruments that’ll change astronomical research, especially in dark energy studies and exoplanet detection.
STScI acts as the Science Operations Center for the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope. The team coordinates mission planning from its Baltimore HQ.
Roman will run two big survey programs. The High Latitude Survey looks at dark energy by observing billions of galaxies.
The Galactic Bulge Time Domain Survey hunts for exoplanets using gravitational microlensing.
STScI builds observation schedules to get the most science possible. Planning teams work closely with NASA Goddard, which handles mission operations.
Survey coordination needs very precise timing—Roman’s wide-field images cover areas 200 times bigger than Hubble’s infrared view. STScI manages the massive data processing workflows needed for all that data.
The institute also runs General Astrophysics observations, letting astronomers study topics beyond the main surveys, like stellar populations and supermassive black holes.
Roman carries two main scientific instruments, both managed through STScI. The Wide Field Instrument is the main survey camera.
It uses an advanced detector array to capture infrared light from distant galaxies and stars. The wide field design lets Roman map big chunks of the sky quickly.
The Coronagraph Instrument tests new tech for directly imaging exoplanets. This system blocks starlight to reveal planets around nearby stars.
STScI handles calibration for both instruments. Technical teams make sure the data meets tough scientific standards.
Roman’s instruments will work together to push space science forward. The telescope will find thousands of new exoplanets and study dark energy’s role in the universe’s expansion.
STScI runs deep data archives that store and share observations from many NASA missions. Researchers everywhere can access decades of space telescope data using advanced search tools and easy-to-use interfaces.
MAST is the main data home for NASA’s optical, ultraviolet, and near-infrared astronomy missions. The archive holds observations from Hubble, James Webb, and a bunch of other space instruments.
MAST stores petabytes of scientific data from missions like TESS, Kepler, and the International Ultraviolet Explorer. The archive keeps both raw and processed data, making sure astronomers can access it for years to come.
Key archive features include automated data uploads, quality checks, and redundant storage. MAST keeps multiple backup copies on different media to avoid data loss.
It supports cross-mission searches, so researchers can find related observations from different telescopes. This lets scientists combine data for bigger, more complete studies.
MAST offers web interfaces and programmatic tools for finding and downloading data. The portal lets users filter observations by target, instrument, date, and other parameters.
Download options include single files, bulk transfers, and cloud access via Amazon Web Services. The archive supports several data formats for different analysis software.
Interactive visualization tools let users preview images, spectra, and light curves right in the browser—no special software needed.
MAST provides solid documentation, tutorials, and user support. Technical staff help with tough questions and data analysis through a help desk and online guides.
STScI drives astronomical research across all sorts of space science—from mapping distant galaxies to figuring out how galactic structures form and change. The institute’s scientists use advanced space telescopes to make discoveries that keep surprising us and reshaping what we know about the universe.
Researchers at STScI have pushed the boundaries of what we know about stellar formation, exoplanet atmospheres, and cosmic phenomena. The Exoplanet Characterization Toolkit gives scientists a powerful way to analyze the atmospheres of planets outside our solar system.
At the institute, scientists dive into how stars and planetary systems come together from swirling clouds of gas and dust. The Star and Planet Formation Group tracks this material as it changes into new stars and planets.
The Institute for Planets and Life gathers experts from Johns Hopkins University, STScI, and the Applied Physics Laboratory. Together, they tackle big questions about life’s origins and how common life might be across the universe.
Specialized working groups dig into the mysteries of interstellar and circumgalactic media. The Interstellar Medium Group teams up with outside researchers to figure out what’s happening with the gas and dust between stars.
The COS-Halos Survey looks at the invisible gas that surrounds galaxies by using the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph on Hubble. Scientists poke and prod this faint material to learn how galaxies grow and take on their unique traits.
SPOGS (Shocked POststarburst Galaxy Survey) hunts for galaxies in the middle of big transformations. Researchers keep an eye on how blue spiral galaxies turn into red elliptical and lenticular ones.
The LEGUS program snapped images of 50 nearby galaxies, from ultraviolet to near-infrared. This Treasury Program helps us understand how clusters of star formation change over space and time.
The Milky Way Halo Research Group studies our own galaxy’s outer halo. Their work sheds light on how the Milky Way’s outskirts formed and continue to evolve.
Frontier Fields uses the gravitational pull of massive galaxy clusters to boost Hubble’s reach. This trick lets scientists spot extremely distant and faint galaxies that would otherwise stay hidden.
The RELICS program mixes Hubble and Spitzer data to find the brightest, far-off galaxy candidates. By using gravitational lensing, researchers peer back to galaxies from the universe’s earliest days.
GLASS zeroes in on 10 huge clusters to capture detailed spectra from background galaxies. The Grism Lens-Amplified Survey delivers rich data on what distant galaxies are made of.
CANDELS and CLASH surveys map broad stretches of sky, tracking how galaxies formed and changed over cosmic time. These programs show us how galactic structures developed during different eras of the universe.
The Space Telescope Science Institute runs a fierce peer review process for observing time on top-tier space telescopes. Scientists from around the world submit proposals, hoping to win precious time on telescopes like Hubble—where demand can outpace supply by as much as five to one.
Every year, STScI puts out a call for proposals, and thousands pour in from the global astronomy community. Researchers at universities, observatories, and institutes craft detailed scientific proposals and request specific amounts of observing time.
Proposals cover categories from stellar populations and solar system objects to exoplanets and high-energy events. Scientists must show that only space-based telescopes can get the data they need.
Proposal categories include:
Groups like the American Astronomical Society often guide researchers writing competitive proposals. Scientists have to specify exactly how many telescope orbits they need and explain why.
A committee of expert astronomers, split into focused panels, reviews the proposals. Each panel includes internationally respected scientists who know the field inside and out.
For the biggest proposals, STScI holds face-to-face discussion panels. Smaller submissions go through external review. The selection process weighs three main things: scientific impact within the field, broader significance, and technical feasibility.
Anonymous reviews keep things fair and rigorous. Panel chairs and committee members score hundreds of proposals using a standardized system that balances all criteria.
The Executive Committee oversees large programs and ensures a fair scientific spread. The STScI Director makes the final call, but with so much competition, only about 20-25% of proposals get the green light.
The Space Telescope Science Institute runs advanced cameras and spectrographs that collect light from across the spectrum. These instruments work together to reveal the secrets of galaxies, stars, and planets.
The Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) acts as Hubble’s main camera for visible light. It captures sharp images of distant galaxies and nearby stars.
ACS includes three channels. The Wide Field Channel covers big swaths of space. The High Resolution Channel zooms in for close-ups. The Solar Blind Channel blocks out regular light to focus on ultraviolet rays.
Scientists use ACS to look at how galaxies formed long ago. The camera can spot objects 10 billion times fainter than what we see with our eyes.
ACS helps map dark matter around galaxy clusters and snaps detailed images of planets in our own solar system. It’s caught storm patterns on Jupiter and even seasonal changes on Mars.
The Cosmic Origins Spectrograph (COS) splits ultraviolet light into its component colors. This reveals which gases float in space and how fast they’re moving.
COS took over from the older Faint Object Spectrograph (FOS) in 2009, and it works about ten times better. It can catch weak signals from objects far, far away.
Spectroscopy with COS uncovers what stars and gas clouds are made of. The instrument measures temperatures and densities, tracking elements like oxygen and carbon as they spread through galaxies.
Scientists rely on COS to study the warm-hot gas between galaxies—a place that holds most of the universe’s ordinary matter. COS also investigates atmospheres around exoplanets.
The Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam) on the James Webb Space Telescope sees heat, not just visible light. This lets it peer through cosmic dust that blocks other cameras.
NIRCam works in two parts, each tuned to a different slice of infrared. The short wavelength channel catches objects similar to what Hubble sees, while the long wavelength channel reveals cooler and more distant things.
The camera snaps pictures and collects spectra at once. NIRCam can spot the universe’s first galaxies, which look red-shifted as they race away from us.
Scientists use NIRCam to study how stars form inside dusty clouds. It also helps find brown dwarfs and exoplanets. Its infrared vision shows details no other space telescope can match.
The Space Telescope Science Institute builds partnerships with scientists all over the world. Their programs connect researchers to the latest telescope data and encourage professional growth across the global astronomy community.
Since 1990, STScI has run Hubble Space Telescope science operations. The institute also leads science operations for the James Webb Space Telescope and helps out with the upcoming Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope.
STScI manages Outerspace, a collaboration platform just for astronomers. Staff sponsor specific working groups, projects, and committees in dedicated “Spaces,” each with restricted access for the right people.
The Barbara A. Mikulski Archive for Space Telescopes supports over 20 missions. This archive curates and shares data with astronomers worldwide, handling thousands of requests every year.
Science working groups get direct support through STScI’s mission operations centers. These groups access real-time telescope data and coordinate observations across multiple instruments. The American Astronomical Society and other organizations often team up with STScI for research projects.
STScI’s communications team has led astronomy outreach for more than 25 years. They reach out to diverse audiences through public events, interactive websites, and multimedia. These programs help train the next generation of science communicators.
Community engagement specialists at STScI create educational resources and training materials. They work with NASA’s Science Activation program to open up learning opportunities for all ages.
STScI hosts community events that bring together scientists, engineers, and the public. The James Webb Space Telescope launch involved teamwork across the global astronomy community. These events highlight possible careers in space science and telescope operations.
Professional astronomers can join training sessions on proposal writing and data analysis. STScI staff run workshops on advanced imaging and spectroscopic techniques for space-based observatories.
The Space Telescope Science Institute turns complex astronomical discoveries into content that actually engages people around the world. Their programs connect the public with space telescope missions through interactive events, multimedia, and new tech platforms.
The institute’s public outreach team brings space science to communities across the U.S. They show up at big events like South by Southwest in Austin and Artscape in Baltimore, offering interactive exhibits and telescope viewing.
You’ll find them at airports, art galleries, museums, and science festivals. Their displays feature jaw-dropping images from Hubble and James Webb. The team works with NASA to create memorable moments at STEM festivals across the country.
Science experts lead hands-on demos that make tough concepts easier to grasp. Visitors can try out 3D telescope models through the Space Telescope Augmented Reality app. The institute also hosts monthly online lectures with well-known scientists.
On social media—Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube—they share astronomy visuals every day. Monthly stargazing guides help people spot constellations and track sky events. WebbTelescope.org is the go-to hub for detailed mission info.
The institute crafts educational materials for all kinds of audiences. Their content includes stunning images, videos, and articles that break down astrophysics.
These resources work in classrooms and informal science spaces alike. Teachers get curriculum materials that match STEM goals. The Barbara A. Mikulski Archive for Space Telescopes makes data available for student research.
Advanced visualization tech takes learning up a notch. The team produces content for planetariums and 360-degree VR systems. Documentary filmmakers use their visuals to tell the full story of astronomy.
NASA’s hyperwalls display their high-def images in immersive panoramas. These tools let students interact with real data from space telescopes. The institute keeps developing new ways to explain complex space science.
The Space Telescope Science Institute employs about 700 scientists, engineers, and support staff. They run some of the world’s most advanced space observatories.
This team brings together top astrophysicists and technical experts, managing billions of dollars in telescope operations.
STScI brings together one of the largest groups of professional astronomers and astrophysicists in the country. Their scientists dive into research on galaxy formation, exoplanet detection, and stellar evolution.
You’ll also find spacecraft operations specialists here who control the Hubble and James Webb Space Telescopes. These engineers keep an eye on the telescopes’ health, plan observations, and tackle technical issues—sometimes from millions of miles away.
Data scientists at STScI look after the Barbara A. Mikulski Archive for Space Telescopes (MAST). They process and share astronomical data from over 20 space missions, making it available to researchers around the globe.
The institute hires software developers, instrument specialists, and mission planners too. Everyone works together to get the most out of every telescope observation.
Jennifer M. Lotz leads STScI as Director, shaping the institute’s scientific mission and long-term strategy. Nancy A. Levenson acts as Deputy Director, handling daily operations.
Mission-specific directors manage individual telescopes. Tom Brown oversees the James Webb Space Telescope Mission Office, while Julia Roman-Duval heads up Hubble operations.
Mercedes López-Morales coordinates research activities as Associate Director for Science. Division heads look after specialized departments like Data Management, Instruments, and Science Operations.
STScI operates under the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy. They keep close connections with Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland.
STScI has shaped modern astronomy with decades of groundbreaking discoveries. Their work stretches from Hubble’s revolutionary images to the James Webb missions that keep changing what we know about the cosmos.
Since 1990, STScI has completely changed how we study the universe. Their management of Hubble led to discoveries that honestly rewrote the textbooks.
Deep field observations uncovered thousands of distant galaxies in what looked like empty parts of the sky. These images revealed how galaxies formed and evolved over billions of years.
The Barbara A. Mikulski Archive for Space Telescopes holds data from more than 20 missions. Scientists use this massive collection for research projects that spark new discoveries long after the original observations.
Researchers using STScI data measured the universe’s expansion rate with unmatched precision. They found that dark energy is pushing the universe to expand faster and faster.
Now, the James Webb Space Telescope lets STScI push into infrared astronomy. Webb’s instruments peer through cosmic dust to study star formation and the earliest galaxies.
The Space Telescope Science Institute set the standard for remote telescope operations. Their teams manage complex observations from millions of miles away.
STScI’s data processing techniques pull as much science as possible from space observations. Other observatories now use these methods for their own data.
They also created outreach programs that connect the public directly with space discoveries. Their image processing transforms raw telescope data into visuals that capture people’s imaginations.
Running the Webb telescope is STScI’s latest big leap. They coordinate detailed observation schedules to get the most science from every mission.
Future telescopes like the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope will rely on STScI’s experience. The institute keeps inventing new ways to handle the demands of next-generation space observatories.
STScI serves as NASA’s main space telescope operations center. People often want to know about jobs, location, funding, and how the institute works with other organizations.
The Space Telescope Science Institute offers a wide range of careers in scientific research, engineering, and administration. Staff roles include astronomers, software developers, data analysts, and mission operations specialists.
Research scientists use Hubble, James Webb, and future telescopes to conduct major astronomical studies. Engineering teams build cutting-edge tools for telescope operations and data processing.
They regularly recruit for permanent jobs and postdoctoral fellowships. Opportunities range from entry-level to senior leadership across departments.
Administrative and support staff manage grants, outreach programs, and facility operations. The Barbara A. Mikulski Archive for Space Telescopes hires experts in data curation and astronomical databases.
The institute runs internship programs for undergraduates and graduate students interested in space astronomy. Applications usually need transcripts, recommendation letters, and a statement of research interests.
Summer internships let students work with research staff on active projects. Interns get hands-on experience with telescope data and research methods.
Graduate students can collaborate with institute scientists on thesis research. These programs sometimes lead to journal publications or conference presentations.
Deadlines depend on the program and academic calendar. It’s best to contact the institute directly for current openings and requirements.
NASA contracts the Space Telescope Science Institute to run science operations for major space telescope missions. The institute has managed Hubble’s science operations since 1990.
The Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy operates the institute for NASA. This setup lets NASA use academic expertise while keeping oversight.
STScI also manages science and mission operations for the James Webb Space Telescope. They’ll support the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope too.
NASA provides funding and sets mission requirements. STScI brings technical know-how and connects with the scientific community.
The main STScI campus sits in Baltimore, Maryland. You’ll find it at 3700 San Martin Drive, Baltimore, Maryland 21218.
Baltimore’s location gives easy access to Washington DC and NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. The area is close to major East Coast universities and research centers.
The institute uses several buildings on its campus. Facilities include offices, data centers, and spaces for public outreach.
Staff work on-site or remotely depending on the project. The Baltimore headquarters coordinates with NASA and international partners.
NASA funds the Space Telescope Science Institute through contracts. This funding covers telescope operations, research, and data archives.
The Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy receives these NASA contracts to run the institute. The contracts lay out mission goals and performance standards.
Other funding comes from research grants and collaborations with different organizations. The institute manages grants for Hubble and James Webb research.
Budget funds go to staff salaries, facilities, and tech development. Funding levels shift based on mission needs and NASA’s priorities.
The Space Telescope Science Institute lays out clear guidelines for how you can use its logo and branding. If you want to include an official logo in a publication, presentation, or commercial project, you’ll need to get permission first.
Educational and research organizations can use the institute’s logos, but only if they follow certain rules. You’ll have to give proper credit and use the logo in the right context.
If you’re with a business or commercial group, you must get explicit approval before using any STScI logos or branding. Using the logo without permission breaks intellectual property laws and the institute’s policies.
If you’re unsure about the process or need updated details, just reach out to the institute’s communications office. The requirements might change depending on how and where you plan to use the logo.
