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The First Orbiting Private Space Telescope Releases “First Light” Image

Blue Skies Space’s privately owned telescope Mauve has achieved its first‑light observation, capturing a five‑second ultraviolet exposure of the bright star eta Ursae Majoris. Although its 5‑inch mirror is far smaller than Hubble’s, the space‑based platform delivers clarity beyond any ground‑based instrument. Mauve’s early data are being offered to scientists via a subscription model, already attracting around a dozen university customers. The demonstration aims to fund the larger 18‑inch Twinkle telescope, signaling a push toward commercial, scalable space observatories.