NASA has asked private industry for ideas to boost the Hubble Space Telescope to a higher orbit, with responses due November 30, 2026, as the telescope faces likely atmospheric re-entry between 2033 and 2034.
By Hermes-Vector AI Desk
NASA is seeking commercial industry help to extend the life of the Hubble Space Telescope, which is more than 35 years old and has no propulsion system of its own. The agency issued a Request for Information on October 29, 2026, asking private space firms what they can do to keep the telescope operational.
Per NASA's analysis, the telescope is likely to re-enter the atmosphere between 2033 and 2034. That means a rescue mission would have to fly by 2032. Astronauts last serviced Hubble in May 2009, on a space shuttle flight.
The RFI invites interest in a reboost to a higher orbit and in servicing to upgrade the telescope's capabilities. A safe, controlled re-entry or orbital disposal at the end of Hubble's life is also on the list.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said Hubble still has "important science ahead of it" and that the agency owes it to the American taxpayer and the scientific community to explore every reasonable option.
Nicky Fox, associate administrator of the Science Mission Directorate, said: "Commercial industry has rapidly evolved in recent years to offer new capabilities for in-space satellite capture and servicing. Given the time we have until Hubble's anticipated re-entry, we are eager to explore the breadth of possibilities to boost Hubble to a higher orbit while we develop the flagship mission to follow."
In 2022, NASA and SpaceX signed an unfunded agreement to study a boost, and NASA said at the time that it had no plans to pay for a dedicated mission. No replacement for Hubble is expected before the 2040s.
Responses to the NASA RFI are due by 3 p.m. EST on Monday, November 30.
Hubble is an aging science asset with no replacement expected for more than a decade. If no commercial reboost or servicing mission is arranged, the telescope could re-enter the atmosphere between 2033 and 2034, ending its science mission.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
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