NASA seeks commercial proposals to extend Hubble’s life or guide its descent
Companies have until November 30 to respond. NASA estimates the telescope could re-enter the atmosphere in 2033 or 2034.
NASA is seeking ideas from companies for raising Hubble’s orbit, servicing the telescope or bringing it down safely. The agency issued its request on October 29 and says any mission would have to launch by 2032, ahead of its estimated atmospheric re-entry in 2033 or 2034.
The 36-year-old observatory has no engine and is gradually losing altitude. It currently operates at about 470 km. According to Ars Technica’s account of NASA’s requirements, a proposed boost would have to take Hubble to at least 600 km without damaging it.
A participating company would be responsible for the launch rocket, servicing spacecraft and mission operations, as well as astronauts if required. NASA has neither allocated funding nor committed to purchasing a mission, Ars Technica reported. Responses are due November 30.
This is not NASA’s first attempt to gather commercial proposals. In 2022, Jared Isaacman, then a private astronaut and now NASA administrator, offered to cover most of the cost of a crewed visit using SpaceX’s Dragon. NASA received eight industry responses to a request that year but decided in 2024 against pursuing an orbital boost.
Isaacman expects robotics companies to show interest in the new request, according to Ars Technica. Hubble has a docking aid installed by astronauts during the final shuttle visit in 2009: a soft-capture mechanism that should make it easier for another spacecraft to attach.
