The Hubble Space Telescope has spent 36 years operating in orbit, but its lack of onboard propulsion means it will naturally plunge back into the atmosphere in the early-to-mid-2030s without outside help. NASA last boosted the observatory’s orbit in 2002 during a Space Shuttle Columbia servicing mission, and the retirement of the shuttle fleet left the telescope with a steadily declining altitude and no existing method to prevent its eventual destruction.
Commercial Rescue Concepts
NASA released a Request For Information on Thursday asking commercial companies for proposals on how to reboost, service, or execute a controlled disposal of the telescope. Responses are due by November 30, with the space agency specifically seeking information regarding private capabilities to capture Hubble and elevate it to an altitude of at least 373 miles, improve its performance, or guide it to a safe reentry.
NASA stated that any potential mission must not harm the telescope and needs to take place by 2032. Furthermore, the chosen contractor would take responsibility for supplying the launch vehicle, the servicing spacecraft, mission operations, and any necessary crew members.
Future Timeline and Costs
The space agency has not made any official commitments to purchase a rescue mission, but officials aim to determine market interest, potential costs, and which organizations possess the realistic capability to reach Hubble before it burns up on reentry. Orbital dynamicists forecast that the telescope will likely fall out of orbit around 2033 or 2034, though solar activity can alter these predictions.
Hubble previously drifted from its 2002 altitude of 362 miles down to its current position roughly 292 miles above Earth over the course of 24 years. Elevating the observatory to the required 373-mile altitude would likely extend its operational lifespan in orbit by at least another 25 years.
