Telescopes have been sent to space because ground-based telescopes?

Answer 1

I assume the question is why we spend so much money putting telescopes in orbit when we have ground-based telescopes.

The answer is because the atmosphere creates a lot of distortions that limits how far our telescopes can see, and what they can see.

Astronomers, as all scientists, are explorers; they are not content to keep looking at the same objects with the same level of detail over and over. It is much like the way so many people like HD television over old analog t.v. ... when looking out into space and distant stars, the atmosphere creates distortions and cannot see very well during the daylight (just as you cannot see stars during daylight). The problem is getting worse by the problem of light pollution -- all those security and traffic lights on all night long in cities creates a glow of light that makes stargazing even more difficult, even at night. By putting telescopes into space, they are no longer hindered by atmospheric distortions and are unaffected by light pollution from our cities. A telescope in space versus on the ground is analagous to an H.D. television versus an old analog t.v. -- there is much more you can see, and what you can see is in greater detail.

Answer 2

have their images distorted by air.