NASA seeks info on commercial Hubble boost

NASA has issued a Request for Information on in-space servicing that could support the Hubble Space Telescope. The notice asks whether commercial providers are interested in a mission to raise Hubble to a higher altitude and in servicing that would enhance the observatory's capabilities. The request is available online.

The online request addresses in-space servicing to support Hubble. It seeks commercial interest in a potential mission to boost the telescope to a higher altitude and in servicing work that would enhance its capabilities.

Hubble is in low Earth orbit and has no propulsion system to maintain its own orbit. Atmospheric drag is slowly reducing its altitude, and the telescope has steadily lost altitude.

NASA says a mission would need to take place by 2032. Hubble's likely re-entry is in the 2033 to 2034 timeframe, and end-of-mission disposal would involve safe controlled re-entry or orbital disposal.

Hubble is an international cooperation between NASA and ESA and has operated for more than three decades. The telescope is 36 years old. Commercial industry has rapidly evolved toward satellite capture and servicing capabilities in space, and NASA is developing a flagship mission to follow Hubble.

Because Hubble lacks propulsion and its altitude is slowly decreasing, the request identifies a commercial boost mission as a way to support the observatory. Extending Hubble's life would bring additional discoveries, additional science, and further chances to broaden understanding of the universe.

The request asks about commercial interest in servicing an asset already on orbit, while commercial industry has moved toward satellite capture and servicing and NASA develops a flagship mission to follow Hubble.