Hubble Space Telescope. Computer illustration of the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) and planets. The HST is a joint venture between NASA and the European Sapce Agency (ESA). It was launched from a space shuttle on 25 April 1990. The images it produces are much more detailed than those from ground-based telescopes whose light is affected by atmospheric disturbances. Since its launch, the HST has discovered around 100 new planets.