By The Associated Press

WASHINGTON - Equipment that helped save the Hubble Space Telescope from disaster in 1993 was recently returned to Earth and is going on display at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum in Washington.

The first phase of a new human spaceflight gallery opens Thursday at the museum on the National Mall. It leaves plenty of room to add new artifacts in the coming years as NASA retires the space shuttle program.

Two large pieces of equipment on display provided critical repairs to Hubble's once flawed eye.

Scientists and curators say Hubble has touched many parts of society and provides images of the universe for science textbooks around the world. Following a makeover in May, NASA says Hubble could last another five to 10 years.