Summary
NASA has issued a Request for Information to assess commercial options for servicing Hubble, raising its orbit or safely disposing of it at the end of its mission. The agency says Hubble is likely to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere in 2033 or 2034 and anticipates any mission would need to take place by 2032.
NASA issued a Request for Information on Oct. 29 to learn what commercial companies could offer for the Hubble Space Telescope. The agency is exploring three possibilities: raising Hubble to a higher orbit to extend its science lifetime, servicing it to enhance its capabilities, or arranging a safe, controlled re-entry or orbital disposal at the end of its mission.
The request is an information-gathering step, not a decision to carry out a particular mission. NASA is inviting responses until 3 p.m. EST on Nov. 30.
Why Hubble may need help in orbit
Hubble’s orbit is gradually getting lower because Earth’s upper atmosphere, though extremely thin at satellite altitudes, creates drag. Hubble has no propulsion system to maintain its own orbit. NASA analysis predicts it is likely to re-enter the atmosphere in the 2033 to 2034 timeframe, so the agency anticipates that a mission would need to take place by 2032.
Raising the telescope to a higher orbit could slow that orbital decline and give it more time to conduct science. NASA is also asking about servicing that could enhance the telescope’s capabilities, though the request does not specify a servicing design.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said the agency wants to explore reasonable, potentially cost-effective ways to keep Hubble operating. Nicky Fox, associate administrator for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, pointed to recent growth in commercial capabilities for capturing and servicing satellites in space. NASA says it is considering possible ways to boost Hubble while developing the flagship mission intended to follow it.
Three options under consideration
The request seeks information on an orbit-raising mission, in-orbit servicing, and end-of-mission disposal. These are distinct goals: extending Hubble’s time in orbit, changing or improving its capabilities, and managing its eventual departure from orbit.
Hubble has operated for more than three decades and continues to make scientific discoveries. NASA manages the telescope and mission operations, and the project is an international collaboration with the European Space Agency. The agency’s request is intended to show what commercial approaches may be available as it considers the telescope’s future.