NASA hopes the commercial space industry can help save Hubble
Gravity is a cruel mistress, slowly dragging the famed telescope ever closer to its ultimate demise with every day. Hubble is in no immediate danger of burning up in the Earth's atmosphere, but its time will run out in the early to mid 2030s unless its orbit is boosted. So NASA is taking proposals from the private sector to see if anyone can save it. In a post on NASA's site, Administrator Jared Isaacman said…
Key points
- NASA is seeking private-sector proposals to boost Hubble's orbit and extend its life.
- Hubble is not in immediate danger but its orbit will run out in the early to mid 2030s.
- The Request for Information remains open until November 30th at 3 PM ET.
NASA is asking the commercial space industry for proposals to extend the life of the Hubble Space Telescope. The telescope is not in immediate danger of burning up in Earth's atmosphere, but its orbit will run out in the early to mid 2030s unless it is boosted, according to The Verge.
The agency has opened a Request for Information to see if private companies can find a way to save the famed observatory. The request will remain open through November 30th at 3 PM ET.
What NASA officials said
In a post on NASA's site, Administrator Jared Isaacman said Hubble still has important science ahead of it and that the agency should examine every reasonable opportunity to keep it delivering as long as possible.
Isaacman added that if there are innovative and cost-effective ways to extend the life of an asset already in orbit, NASA owes it to the American taxpayer and the scientific community to explore them. He said extending Hubble's life would mean more discoveries, more science, and more opportunities to expand understanding of the universe.
Hubble still has important science ahead of it, and we should be looking at every reasonable opportunity to keep it delivering for as long as possible
— Jared Isaacman
