Portal:Astronomy/Picture/18 August 2005
< Portal:Astronomy | Picture
The Orbiting Astronomical Observatory satellites were a series of four space observatories launched by NASA between 1966 and 1972. The OAO program demonstrated the viability of space-based observatories and paved the way for the development of the Hubble Space Telescope. This image shows OAO-3 being prepared for launch in a clean room.