What specific optical deficit caused the initial blurry images from Hubble?

Answer

spherical aberration

The problem that marred the initial images was precisely identified as spherical aberration, meaning light rays hitting the edge focused differently than those hitting the center of the primary mirror.

What specific optical deficit caused the initial blurry images from Hubble?

#Videos

FreeSchool Presents: Repairs to the Hubble Telescope - YouTube

HubbleSpacetelescopeopticsMirror