Hubble

nounShop talkAviation

A Hubble is a large space telescope or reconnaissance satellite utilizing a massive primary mirror.

Hubble refers to the iconic Hubble Space Telescope, but in aerospace circles, it is also used as a shorthand for any large, bus-sized optical satellite featuring a massive primary mirror. Many classified reconnaissance satellites share the same fundamental chassis and optical design as Hubble, just pointed down at Earth instead of out into deep space.

Heard on the job

The new spy bird they're launching out of Vandenberg is basically a Hubble pointing at the ground.