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How does the HST Capture an Image and then Send it to Earth?
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#3: Transmitting the Signal to Earth

Now that we have an electronic signal, scientists and engineers on Earth radio a command to the Hubble to begin transmitting the data. The stored digital signal is beamed to Earth along a particular path that includes two satellites and two ground stations. Final destination is the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, Maryland.

This might seem like a roundabout route, but it only takes a couple of seconds. Besides, after the galaxy's light travels 50 million light-years, it doesn't seem like too much to ask.

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