NASA seeks commercial help to save Hubble Space Telescope from crashing
The 36-year-old telescope is expected to crash to Earth in the early 2030s due to gravitational drag.
NASA has invited commercial space companies to provide solutions to save the 36-year-old Hubble Space Telescope, according to WION. The telescope is being dragged down by gravity and is expected to crash to Earth in the early 2030s.
In a Request for Information (RFI) released on October 29, the space agency asked private players to propose ways to raise the altitude of the telescope to 600 kilometres and fine-tune its performance. If saving the telescope is not possible, companies must also provide plans for a controlled reentry back to Earth.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman stated in a post that the telescope still has important science ahead of it. He said the agency should look at every reasonable opportunity to keep it delivering and explore cost-effective ways to save an asset already in orbit.
The telescope was launched in 1990 and was moved to a higher orbit by the Space Shuttle Columbia in 2002. NASA noted that the downward drag was expected even before the initial launch.
The agency has asked companies to submit their proposals before November 30. NASA indicated that undertaking the task itself might be a challenge due to being short on funds.