Images from ground-based telescopes are invariably distorted by the Earth' s atmosphere  Orbiting space telescopes, however, operating above Earth' s atmosphere, should provide superbly detailed images
Ttherefore, ground-based telescopes will soon become obsolete for advanced astronomical research purposes
When large-aperture telescopes are located at high altitudes near the equator, they permit the best Earth-based observations of the center of the Milky Way Galaxy, a prime target of astronomical research.