NASA Seeks Commercial Options to Extend Hubble's Life

NASA is asking commercial companies how they could help extend the life of the Hubble Space Telescope, including a possible mission to raise its orbit or service the observatory.

The agency issued a request for information October 29 and described the effort in an October 30 announcement. It is seeking ideas and information about industry capabilities, not announcing an approved servicing mission or a contract award.

NASA said the request covers three possibilities: boosting Hubble to a higher altitude, servicing it to improve its capabilities, or carrying out a safe, controlled re-entry or orbital disposal when its mission ends.

Hubble has no propulsion system to maintain its own orbit. Atmospheric drag is gradually lowering its altitude, and current analysis points to a likely re-entry in 2033 or 2034. NASA anticipates that any mission to address that problem would need to take place by 2032.

The telescope has been operating for more than 35 years and continues to produce scientific discoveries. NASA says the growth of commercial in-space capture and servicing capabilities makes it worth exploring options to keep the observatory working longer.

Industry responses are due by 3 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on Monday, November 30. What happens next will depend on the information NASA receives and its assessment of possible missions.

Hubble is a joint NASA and European Space Agency project. NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center manages the telescope and mission operations, while the Space Telescope Science Institute conducts its science operations.

(The featured image is an archival photograph of Hubble in orbit, not a new servicing mission.)