In Space Servicing

NASA Solicits Commercial Bids to Reboost Hubble Before 2033 Reentry

NASA has issued a Request for Information (RFI) to commercial firms seeking proposals to reboost, service, or safely dispose of the Hubble Space Telescope by 2032. The observatory, launched in 1990, is losing altitude due to atmospheric drag and is predicted to reenter Earth's atmosphere in 2033 or 2034. While no funding is currently allocated, the agency aims to assess industry capabilities and costs for a potential mission that could extend Hubble's life by at least 25 years. This move follows a failed 2022 attempt to secure a servicing mission and coincides with the recent, unsuccessful rescue attempt of the Swift telescope.