What shift in the scientific approach occurred as a result of the mission's focus on observational science?

The mission facilitated a transition where concepts previously considered mathematical constructs became physical realities that could be measured and analyzed.

Before the era of this telescope, many phenomena—such as the existence of supermassive black holes or the specific rate of universe expansion—were treated primarily as theoretical or mathematical constructs. The telescope's high-resolution capabilities allowed these concepts to be photographed, measured, and analyzed as physical realities. This shift moved astronomy from a discipline relying on speculation and sparse data to a robust observational science, enabling astronomers to decipher the actual rules governing the universe.