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NASA seeks industry ideas to boost or retire Hubble
NASA said Thursday it asked companies for ideas on boosting, servicing or disposing of the Hubble Space Telescope before a predicted 2030s re-entry.
NASA asked commercial companies on Oct. 29 how they might boost, service or dispose of the Hubble Space Telescope, the agency said Thursday1.
The request for information seeks interest in a mission to raise Hubble's altitude, work that would enhance its capabilities, or a controlled re-entry or other disposal at the end of the mission1. Responses are due by 3 p.m. EST on Nov. 301.
Hubble has no propulsion system, and atmospheric drag is lowering its orbit1. NASA analysis predicts the telescope is likely to re-enter Earth's atmosphere in 2033 to 2034, so the agency said a servicing or disposal mission would need to take place by 20321.
Administrator Jared Isaacman said Hubble still has science ahead of it and that NASA should explore reasonable ways to keep it operating1. Nicky Fox, associate administrator of the Science Mission Directorate, said commercial satellite capture and servicing have advanced and that NASA wants to study a boost while it develops a follow-on flagship mission1. Hubble is a NASA-ESA project managed at Goddard Space Flight Center1.
Sources
NASAOfficial source