We present an overview of the performance of the High Speed Photometer (HSP
), one of the five original instruments on the Hubble Space Telescope (HST)
. As its name implies, the HSP was designed for precise high time resolutio
n photometry from visual to ultraviolet wavelengths; sample times as short
as 10.7 mu s were possible. Three image dissectors along with 23 different
broad- and narrowband filters spanning the spectral range from 1200 to 7500
Angstrom were used for photometry of stars and galaxies. A fourth image di
ssector with associated polarization analyzers allowed the measurement of b
roadband linear polarization at near-ultraviolet wavelengths. Simultaneous
observations in the blue and red could be made using one of the dissectors
and a photomultiplier. Except for an instability in the sensitivity of one
of the image dissectors and a reduced throughput in a specialized observati
onal mode, the instrument met or exceeded operational specifications until
it was removed from HST in 1993 December. The ability of HSP to carry out i
ts primary program, however, was nearly totally compromised by the poor per
formance of the telescope, i.e., the spherical aberration of the primary mi
rror that greatly amplified the effects of large spacecraft pointing jitter
and telescope "breathing." As a consequence, the real possibility of HST/H
SP opening a new era of astronomical photometry was lost. HSP data affected
by various telescope problems, as well as data in which these complication
s were relatively small, are shown. The excellent condition of the HSP afte
r its return to Earth is described briefly.