NASA has issued a Request for Information to commercial space companies regarding technologies that could be used to service and maintain the Hubble Space Telescope while it remains in orbit. The agency is seeking to determine whether private sector capabilities could extend the observatory’s operational life, enhance its performance, or facilitate a controlled end-of-mission retirement.
The telescope has been in operation for more than 35 years and continues to produce significant scientific discoveries. However, Hubble is gradually losing altitude due to atmospheric drag in low Earth orbit. Unlike spacecraft equipped with propulsion systems, Hubble cannot independently maintain its orbital altitude. Current NASA projections indicate the telescope will likely re-enter Earth’s atmosphere between 2033 and 2034 unless its orbit is raised by external means.
Several options are under consideration. One primary possibility involves sending a spacecraft to push Hubble to a higher altitude, potentially extending its scientific productivity by several additional years. NASA is also interested in missions that could service and upgrade the telescope’s systems. A third option would involve safely retiring Hubble when its scientific mission concludes, either through controlled atmospheric re-entry or orbital disposal. Any orbital boost mission would need to occur by 2032 to be effective given the limited time window before critical orbital decay occurs.
Hubble is jointly operated by NASA and the European Space Agency, with operational oversight from NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center and Lockheed Martin Space, while scientific operations are managed through the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore. The Request for Information seeks details about commercial capabilities available to conduct in-space satellite servicing. Companies interested in responding can submit information through November 30.
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