After 36 years in orbit, the Hubble Space Telescope faces an inevitable plunge into Earth's atmosphere in the early-to-mid-2030s. NASA has issued a Request For Information (RFI) asking commercial companies to propose ideas for rescuing the observatory. The agency is seeking plans to reboost, service, or guide Hubble to a controlled disposal, with a deadline of November 30 for responses.
The final shuttle servicing mission in 2009 did not reboost the telescope's orbit, and with the shuttle fleet retired, Hubble has steadily lost altitude. NASA requires that any boost or servicing mission must not harm the telescope and should occur by 2032. The contractor would be responsible for providing the launch vehicle, spacecraft, and operations.
Orbital dynamicists predict reentry in 2033 or 2034 without intervention. A reboost to 373 miles (600 km) would likely extend Hubble's operational life for at least 25 more years.
Source: Ars Technica · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing