NASA Turns to Private Industry to Help Save the Hubble Telescope
NASA is asking private companies to propose ways to raise the orbit of the Hubble Space Telescope and extend its life. Without a boost, the telescope will fall into the atmosphere in the early to mid 2030s.
The US space agency NASA is seeking proposals from the private sector on how to save the Hubble Space Telescope, which has been observing the universe from Earth orbit for decades. Unless its orbit is raised, Hubble will re-enter the atmosphere and burn up in the early to mid 2030s.
The telescope faces no immediate danger. Gravity, however, is slowly pulling it lower, so without a boost its operations will eventually end.
Request for Information
NASA has issued a Request for Information, a formal call for ideas from companies. It will remain open until November 30 at 3 p.m. Eastern Time.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said in a post on the agency's website that Hubble still has important science ahead of it and that every reasonable opportunity to keep it working as long as possible should be considered. He said that if there are innovative and cost-effective ways to extend the life of an asset already in orbit, the agency owes it to American taxpayers and the scientific community to explore them.
Isaacman added that extending Hubble's life would mean more discoveries, more science and more opportunities to expand understanding of the universe.
The source does not say which technical solutions are under consideration or what such a mission might cost. The purpose of the request is to find out whether anyone in the private sector can offer a practical way to rescue the telescope.
