NASA has issued a Request for Information seeking commercial proposals to reboost, service, or conduct a controlled disposal of the Hubble Space Telescope before it plunges into Earth's atmosphere in the early-to-mid 2030s. The agency wants missions capable of raising Hubble's orbit to at least 600 km or guiding its reentry, with responses due by November 30 and missions expected by 2032. No funding commitment has been made yet; NASA is gauging industry interest and capabilities.
Background
The Hubble Space Telescope has been operational since 1990 and was last serviced by the Space Shuttle in 2009. With the shuttle fleet retired in 2011, Hubble has no onboard propulsion to maintain its orbit and has been gradually descending ever since.
- Source
- Ars Technica
- Published
- Oct 31, 2026 at 08:07 AM
- Score
- 7.0 / 10