Founding of STScI

Conceptualization of the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) first began in the 1970s with the beginning development of the Hubble Space Telescope (HST), then referred to as the Space Telescope. In 1976, the National Academy of Sciences published the “Institutional Arrangements for the Space Telescope” describing recommendations for an independent organization dedicated to supporting the HST and disseminating data to the global astronomical community. Such an institute would be responsible for advancing HST’s capabilities, directing the telescope’s scientific efforts, and representing the interests of astronomers, the broader, scientific community, and the public at large. Following the report’s publication, NASA sent requests for proposals for the new Space Telescope Science Institute in 1979, and selected AURA’s proposal to build STScI on the Johns Hopkins University Homewood Campus in 1981.

STScI began operations that year under the leadership of founding director Dr. Riccardo Giacconi, and was temporarily housed on the Homewood Campus in Rowland Hall and Latrobe Hall. Construction of the institute’s permanent building was completed in 1983 and was dedicated for then president of Johns Hopkins University, Dr. Steven Muller. The institute’s initial functions included defining the technical management and operations concepts for HST, creating the science data reduction and analysis systems, and developing the guide star selection system. Since HST’s launch in 1990, STScI has expanded its work to include supporting the James Webb Space Telescope and the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, producing and distributing data and educational products, and supporting NASA astronomical missions via the MAST data archive.

To learn more about STScI’s founding and history, see the following resources:

STScI Timeline. https://www.stsci.edu/who-we-are/our-history/stsci-timeline

Our History. https://www.stsci.edu/who-we-are/our-history