NASA seeks commercial proposals to service or rescue Hubble Space Telescope

NASA has issued a Request for Information (RFI) to the commercial aerospace industry to explore options for the Hubble Space Telescope. The agency is seeking proposals for three primary mission concepts: boosting the telescope to a higher altitude of at least 373 miles (600 km), performing hardware servicing to enhance performance, or executing a controlled atmospheric reentry for safe disposal.

Since the retirement of the Space Shuttle fleet, the observatory has lacked an onboard propulsion system to counter atmospheric drag. Consequently, its altitude has steadily decayed. Orbital dynamicists predict that without intervention, the telescope will undergo an uncontrolled reentry into Earth’s atmosphere between 2033 and 2034.

Any proposed mission must be completed by 2032 and must not damage the instrument. While the RFI does not constitute a financial commitment, NASA aims to evaluate technical capabilities, costs, and the feasibility of private industry involvement. Interested companies must submit responses by November 30.