NASA seeks commercial ideas to extend Hubble's orbit

NASA released a Request For Information on Thursday, inviting commercial space organizations to submit ideas for servicing, reboosting, or disposing of the Hubble Space Telescope. The agency is currently seeking information and comments rather than issuing a formal request for proposals. Responses are due by November 30. NASA is not committing to purchasing a mission but wants to understand potential costs and identify interested companies.

The observatory has no propulsion system, meaning any reentry without intervention will be uncontrolled. NASA estimates a 10 percent chance of uncontrolled reentry by September 2032 and a 50 percent chance by December 2033. Orbital dynamicists predict uncontrolled reentry will likely happen in 2033 or 2034 without intervention. A soft-capture mechanism was fitted to Hubble during the STS-125 mission in 2009 to facilitate easier docking.

Suggested mission options include a vehicle to grapple the observatory for a controlled reentry, boosting its orbit to at least 600 km, or enhancing its performance. A reboost to 600 km would likely keep Hubble in orbit for at least 25 more years. NASA requires that any intervention occur by 2032 and not harm the telescope. No replacement for Hubble is expected before the 2040s.