NASA Seeks Industry Input on Commercial Hubble Servicing
NASA issued a Request for Information on commercial servicing for Hubble, covering orbit boosting, capability upgrades or controlled re-entry. Responses due Nov. 30.
The story in focus
NASA issued a Request for Information on Oct. 29 seeking industry input on commercial in-space servicing for the Hubble Space Telescope, including boosting it to a higher orbit, enhancing its capabilities or performing a controlled re-entry or disposal. The agency projects re-entry around 2033 to 2034 and expects any mission by 2032.
- NASA issued the Request for Information on Oct. 29, with responses open until 3 p.m. EST on Monday, Nov. 30.
- The RFI seeks commercial interest in boosting Hubble to a higher altitude, servicing it to enhance capabilities, or performing safe controlled re-entry or orbital disposal.
- NASA attributes Hubble's declining altitude to atmospheric drag; the telescope has no propulsion system to maintain its orbit.
- NASA analysis predicts Hubble will likely re-enter the atmosphere in the 2033 to 2034 timeframe, so a mission would need to occur by 2032.
- NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said extending Hubble's life would mean more discoveries and science.
What NASA asked industry
NASA issued the Request for Information on Oct. 29 to learn about industry capabilities for in-space servicing of the Hubble Space Telescope. The agency is asking about three broad options: a mission to boost Hubble to a higher altitude and extend its science lifetime, servicing to enhance the telescope's capabilities, or a safe, controlled re-entry into Earth's atmosphere or orbital disposal at the end of its mission.
The RFI remains open for responses until 3 p.m. EST on Monday, Nov. 30.
Why orbit is the constraint
Like other spacecraft in low Earth orbit, Hubble's altitude decreases slowly because of atmospheric drag. The telescope has no propulsion system to maintain its own orbit. NASA analysis predicts Hubble is likely to re-enter the atmosphere in the 2033 to 2034 timeframe, and the agency anticipates a mission would need to take place by 2032.
Nicky Fox, associate administrator of NASA's Science Mission Directorate, said commercial industry has rapidly evolved to offer new capabilities for in-space satellite capture and servicing. She said the agency wants to explore boosting Hubble to a higher orbit while it develops the flagship mission to follow.
Program context
Hubble has operated for more than three decades. It is a project of international cooperation between NASA and ESA. NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center manages the telescope and mission operations, with Lockheed Martin Space supporting mission operations at Goddard, and the Space Telescope Science Institute conducting Hubble science operations for NASA. No mission has been selected or funded.
What deadline did NASA set for responses to the Hubble servicing request?
NASA said the Request for Information would remain open for responses until 3 p.m. EST on Monday, Nov. 30, 2026.
Sources & further reading
- NASA Explores Potential Commercial Servicing for Hubble Telescope - NASA Science ↗NASA Science (.gov)
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