NASA is seeking assistance from the private sector to determine the future of the Hubble Space Telescope, which remains a vital instrument for astronomers after 36 years in orbit. If the observatory is left without intervention, it is expected to plunge back into the atmosphere in the early to mid-2030s. To prevent an uncontrolled end to one of the century's most famous scientific tools, the space agency released a Request For Information (RFI) on Thursday, asking commercial companies for ideas on reboosting, servicing, or safely disposing of the telescope.
The telescope's orbit was last raised in 2002, when the Space Shuttle Columbia visited the observatory for a servicing mission. During the final shuttle servicing flight in 2009, no reboost operations were carried out. Following the retirement of the space shuttle fleet two years later, Hubble was left with no method to stave off its gradual loss of altitude, leading to a steady decline toward eventual destruction.
Through the newly issued request, NASA specifically looks for details regarding commercial firms' current and near-term capabilities to capture Hubble and boost it to an altitude of at least 373 miles (600 km). The agency is also open to proposals that would enhance the telescope's performance or guide it through a controlled reentry. Companies interested in providing solutions must submit their responses by the November 30 deadline.