This list of space telescopes (astronomical space observatories) is grouped by major frequency ranges: gamma ray, x-ray, ultraviolet, visible, infrared, microwave and radio. Telescopes that work in multiple frequency bands are included in all of the appropriate sections. Space telescopes that collect particles, such as cosmic ray nuclei and/or electrons, as well as instruments that aim to detect gravitational waves, are also listed. Missions with specific targets within the Solar System (e.g., the Sun and its planets), are excluded; see List of Solar System probes for these, and List of Earth observation satellites for missions targeting Earth.

Two values are provided for the dimensions of the initial orbit. For telescopes in Earth orbit, the min and max altitude are given in kilometers. For telescopes in solar orbit, the minimum distance (periapsis) and the maximum distance (apoapsis) between the telescope and the center of mass of the Sun are given in astronomical units (AU).

Gamma-ray telescopes collect and measure individual, high energy gamma rays from astrophysical sources. These are absorbed by the atmosphere, requiring that observations are done by high-altitude balloons or space missions. Gamma rays can be generated by supernovae, neutron stars, pulsars and black holes. Gamma ray bursts, with extremely high energies, have also been detected but have yet to be identified.^[1]

More information Photo, Name ...

Photo	Name	Space agency	Launch date	Terminated	Location	Ref(s)
	Proton-1	USSR	16 Jul 1965	11 Oct 1965	Earth orbit (183-589 km)	[2]
	Proton-2	USSR	2 Nov 1965	6 Feb 1966	Earth orbit (191-637 km)	[2]
	Proton-4	USSR	16 Nov 1968	24 Jul 1969	Earth orbit (248-477 km)	[3]
	Small Astronomy Satellite 2 (SAS-B)	NASA	15 Nov 1972	8 Jun 1973	Earth orbit (443–632 km)	[4][5]
	Cos-B	ESA	9 Aug 1975	25 Apr 1982	Earth orbit (339.6–99,876 km)	[6][7][8]
	High Energy Astronomy Observatory 3 (HEAO 3)	NASA	20 Sep 1979	29 May 1981	Earth orbit (486.4–504.9 km)	[9][10][11]
	Granat	CNRS & IKI	1 Dec 1989	25 May 1999	Earth orbit (2,000–200,000 km)	[12][13][14]
	Gamma	USSR, CNES, RSA	11 Jul 1990	1992	Earth orbit (375 km)	[15]
	Compton Gamma Ray Observatory (CGRO)	NASA	5 Apr 1991	4 Jun 2000	Earth orbit (362–457 km)	[16][17][18]
	Low Energy Gamma Ray Imager (LEGRI)	INTA	19 May 1997	Feb 2002	Earth orbit (600 km)	[19][20]
	High Energy Transient Explorer 2 (HETE 2)	NASA	9 Oct 2000	Mar 2008	Earth orbit (590–650 km)	[21][22][23]
	International Gamma Ray Astrophysics Laboratory (INTEGRAL)	ESA	17 Oct 2002	—	Earth orbit (639–153,000 km)	[24][25]
	Swift Gamma Ray Burst Explorer	NASA	20 Nov 2004	—	Earth orbit (585–604 km)	[26][27]
	Astrorivelatore Gamma ad Immagini LEggero (AGILE)	ISA	23 Apr 2007	Jan 2024	Earth orbit (524–553 km)	[28][29]
	Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope	NASA	11 Jun 2008	—	Earth orbit (555 km)	[30]
	Gamma-Ray Burst Polarimeter (GAP)	JAXA	21 May 2010	—	Heliocentric orbit	[31]

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X-ray telescopes measure high-energy photons called X-rays. These can not travel a long distance through the atmosphere, meaning that they can only be observed high in the atmosphere or in space. Several types of astrophysical objects emit X-rays, from galaxy clusters, through black holes in active galactic nuclei to galactic objects such as supernova remnants, stars, and binary stars containing a white dwarf (cataclysmic variable stars), neutron star or black hole (X-ray binaries). Some Solar System bodies emit X-rays, the most notable being the Moon, although most of the X-ray brightness of the Moon arises from reflected solar X-rays. A combination of many unresolved X-ray sources is thought to produce the observed X-ray background.

Ultraviolet telescopes make observations at ultraviolet wavelengths, i.e. between approximately 10 and 320 nm. Light at these wavelengths is absorbed by the Earth's atmosphere, so observations at these wavelengths must be performed from the upper atmosphere or from space.^[114] Objects emitting ultraviolet radiation include the Sun, other stars and galaxies.^[115]

UV ranges listed at Ultraviolet astronomy#Ultraviolet space telescopes.

The oldest form of astronomy, optical or visible-light astronomy, observes wavelengths of light from approximately 400 to 700 nm.^[143] Positioning an optical telescope in space eliminates the distortions and limitations that hamper that ground-based optical telescopes (see Astronomical seeing), providing higher resolution images. Optical telescopes are used to look at planets, stars, galaxies, planetary nebulae and protoplanetary disks, amongst many other things.^[144]

Infrared light is of lower energy than visible light, hence is emitted by sources that are either cooler, or moving away from the observer (in present context: Earth) at high speed. As such, the following can be viewed in the infrared: cool stars (including brown dwarves), nebulae, and redshifted galaxies.^[162]

Microwave space telescopes have primarily been used to measure cosmological parameters from the Cosmic Microwave Background. They also measure synchrotron radiation, free-free emission and spinning dust from our Galaxy, as well as extragalactic compact sources and galaxy clusters through the Sunyaev-Zel'dovich effect.^[192]

As the atmosphere is transparent for radio waves, radio telescopes in space are most useful for Very Long Baseline Interferometry: doing simultaneous observations of a source with both a satellite and a ground-based telescope and by correlating their signals to simulate a radio telescope the size of the separation between the two telescopes. Typical targets for observations include supernova remnants, masers, gravitational lenses, and starburst galaxies.^{[citation needed]}

Spacecraft and space-based modules that do particle detection, looking for cosmic rays and electrons. These can be emitted by the sun (Solar Energetic Particles), our galaxy (Galactic cosmic rays) and extragalactic sources (Extragalactic cosmic rays). There are also Ultra-high-energy cosmic rays from active galactic nuclei, those can be detected by ground-based detectors via their particle showers.

A type of telescope that detects gravitational waves; ripples in space-time generated by colliding neutron stars or black holes.

• List of proposed space observatories
• List of heliophysics missions
• List of solar telescopes
• Lists of telescopes
• Lists of spacecraft
• Great Observatories program