NASA is asking private industry for ideas on how to maintain the Hubble Space Telescope or manage its eventual return to Earth. The request for information, published on October 29, seeks technologies and services that could support a future mission, although it does not guarantee that any mission will be awarded.
After more than 36 years in orbit, Hubble continues to generate significant scientific results. However, the telescope has faced technical problems, including failures in its gyroscopes, which help control its orientation. Demand for observations remains high, exceeding the available observing time by a factor of seven.
Hubble is also gradually losing altitude because of atmospheric drag. The observatory is currently about 470 kilometers above Earth, and NASA estimates a 10% chance of atmospheric reentry by September 2032. That probability is expected to reach 50% by December 2033.
The new consultation outlines three possible approaches. One would use a spacecraft to raise Hubble’s orbit from roughly 470 kilometers to at least 600 kilometers, reducing atmospheric drag and potentially extending its operation. A second would combine an orbital boost with servicing intended to improve the telescope’s performance and help it continue operating despite technical problems. The third would focus on directing Hubble into a controlled reentry rather than prolonging its mission.
NASA previously explored commercial support for Hubble. In September 2022, it reached an agreement with SpaceX to study the possibility of using a Crew Dragon capsule for a servicing mission. The study also involved Jared Isaacman, who at the time was participating in the Polaris program for private crewed spaceflights.
Three months later, NASA requested proposals from additional companies and received eight responses. They included a submission from Astroscale, which specializes in satellite servicing and removal, in partnership with orbital transfer vehicle developer Momentus.
The agency decided not to proceed with any of those proposals in June 2024. At that time, one of Hubble’s three remaining operational gyroscopes had failed, forcing the telescope to operate with only one and limiting some observation options. Mark Clampin, then director of NASA’s astrophysics division, said the risks could lead to a premature loss of scientific data and involve significant technological challenges. He also characterized the SpaceX work as a feasibility study rather than a formal recommendation to carry out the mission.
Isaacman has recently renewed support for a mission, saying the earlier SpaceX study had recommended servicing Hubble. That claim differs from Clampin’s 2024 assessment. The study’s final report has not been released in full, while a presentation obtained through a freedom-of-information request was largely redacted.
In June, Shawn Domagal-Goldman, NASA’s current director of astrophysics, also indicated that the agency was open to reconsidering a robotic mission. He said the cost of such operations had fallen below earlier expectations, potentially helping reduce projected operating expenses of nearly $100 million per year.
NASA will now assess the proposals submitted by private companies by the November 30 deadline. The resulting options could determine whether Hubble receives additional support in orbit or is guided through a controlled retirement.
Sources: Olhar Digital.