After 36 years in orbit, the Hubble Space Telescope remains a vital scientific observatory, but its orbit is steadily decaying. Without intervention, Hubble is expected to reenter Earth’s atmosphere in the early to mid-2030s. NASA is now asking commercial companies whether they can raise the telescope’s orbit, service it, or guide it through a controlled reentry before that happens.
The last time NASA raised Hubble into orbit was in 2002, when the space shuttle Columbia visited the observatory for maintenance. The final shuttle servicing mission, in 2009, did not boost Hubble’s orbit. After the shuttle fleet was retired two years later, the telescope continued to lose altitude with no obvious way to prevent its eventual return to Earth.
On Thursday, NASA issued a request for information (RFI) seeking proposals from commercial companies. Responses are due November 30. The agency is specifically asking about companies’ current and near-term capabilities to capture Hubble and raise it to an altitude of at least 373 miles (600 kilometers), improve its performance, or steer it into a controlled reentry.
“Requirements include that boost and/or maintenance missions must not damage the HST and that this mission is scheduled to be conducted by 2032,” NASA wrote in the RFI. The contractor would be responsible for providing the launch vehicle, maintaining the spacecraft, conducting mission operations, and supplying a “crew, if applicable.”
No commitment yet
NASA has not committed to purchasing a Hubble rescue mission. The agency is seeking information about which companies would be interested in such an effort, how much it might cost, and which firms could realistically reach Hubble before it falls from orbit and burns up during reentry.
Orbital mechanics experts currently predict that Hubble will reenter in 2033 or 2034 without intervention, although those estimates can change depending on solar activity.
Hubble has no onboard propulsion system. From an altitude of 362 miles (583 kilometers) in 2002, it took 24 years to gradually descend to its current orbit, about 292 miles (470 kilometers) above Earth. Raising the telescope to NASA’s requested altitude of 373 miles (600 kilometers) would likely keep it in orbit for at least another 25 years.
Source: arstechnica.com
