The Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA) will continue to provide operational services to Nasa for the Hubble Space Telescope Science Operations Center, as the space agency extends the contract.

AURA will continue to provide the products and services required to execute the science programme, and process, archive and distribute scientific data.

The university will also carry on maintaining and calibrating the telescope’s onboard instruments and science operation ground systems, and continue to administer grants, perform public and educational outreach, and conduct astronomical research during the remaining years of the Hubble science mission.

The period for the estimated $113m contract had been extended for three years to 30 April 2013.