World authorities on the history of astronomy - David Devorkin and Robert Smith - reveal Hubble as an unparalleled engineering accomplishment that documents the solar system's workings and growth, the accelerated expansion of the universe, and even humankind's potential demise by the same kind of comet that decimated the dinosaurs millions of years ago. Inside stories reveal how the last mission to service Hubble - in October 2008 - is critical and high profile (its cancellation in 2004 cost NASA's Chief Administrator his job); how lead astronaut John Grunsfeld decided to make this dangerous mission because it is so vital to the future of Earth; how the final images from Hubble over the next few years will set the stage for the 2013 launch of the new infrared telescope, the James Webb; and, finally what will be the fate of the most famous telescope of all time.