NASA window-shops for Hubble rescue
NASA released a Request For Information on Thursday asking commercial companies for ideas on how to reboost, service, or perform a controlled disposal of the Hubble Space Telescope. I view this as a window-shopping exercise because NASA is not committing to buying a Hubble rescue mission. NASA wants to know which companies have current and near-term capabilities to capture Hubble, boost it to an altitude of at least 373 miles (600 km), improve its performance, or guide Hubble to a controlled reentry. The agency requires that the boost and/or servicing mission must not harm the HST and that this mission is expected to occur by 2032. Contractors must provide the launch vehicle, servicing spacecraft, mission operations, and "crew if applicable."
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Target Altitude | At least 373 miles (600 km) |
| Mission Deadline | By 2032 |
| Response Deadline | November 30 |
| Current Altitude | 292 miles (470 km) |
Companies must submit responses by November 30 regarding how much such a mission would cost and which firms have a realistic shot at reaching Hubble. NASA seeks information about current capabilities to capture the telescope or improve its performance. The agency is asking for details on how commercial entities might approach the capture, reboost, or preservation of the instrument after 36 years in orbit.
The telescope’s decay
Hubble has lost altitude steadily since the retirement of the shuttle fleet in 2011. In 2002, the Space Shuttle Columbia visited the observatory for a servicing mission that raised its orbit to 362 miles (583 km). The final shuttle servicing flight in 2009 did not reboost the telescope, and the observatory has since glided from its 2002 altitude to its current 292 miles (470 km) orbit. It took 24 years for the instrument to descend from 362 miles (583 km) to 292 miles (470 km). I find the lack of a way to stave off the telescope’s eventual destruction frustrating, especially as orbital dynamicists predict it will likely plunge into the atmosphere in 2033 or 2034.
A reboost to the requirement of 373 miles (600 km) would likely keep Hubble in orbit for at least 25 more years. Reentry forecasts can change based on solar activity, but the telescope lacks onboard propulsion to change its path or altitude. Reentry in 2033 or 2034 remains a possibility based on current orbital dynamicist predictions.
