NASA has launched a Request for Information (RFI) seeking commercial companies to explore options for servicing or reorbiting the Hubble Space Telescope, which faces an uncertain future due to orbital decay. The agency aims to extend the telescope’s lifespan, with a 10% chance of reentry by 2032 and a 50% chance by 2033, according to a July 2026 analysis.
The agency has issued a Request for Information (RFI) to commercial entities, seeking proposals for missions to reboost Hubble to a higher orbit, service its systems, or ensure a controlled reentry. The RFI, published on October 29, 2026, closes on November 30, 2026, and emphasizes that any mission must occur by 2032 to avoid an uncontrolled reentry.
A Race Against Time
Orbital dynamicists predict Hubble will reenter Earth’s atmosphere between 2033 and 2034 without intervention, with a 10% probability of reentry by September 2032 and a 50% chance by December 2033, according to a July 2026 analysis cited by NASA. The telescope, which lacks onboard propulsion, has been steadily losing altitude since its last servicing mission in 2009. A reboost to 600 km (373 miles) could extend its operational life by at least 25 years, but no firm plans for such a mission exist yet.
Hubble is a national icon that has fundamentally changed how humanity views our universe for more than 35 years,
said Nicky Fox, associate administrator for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate. The agency is exploring innovative and cost-effective ways to extend the life of an asset already on orbit,
according to NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, who emphasized the scientific and fiscal value of preserving Hubble’s capabilities.
Outlining Hubble's Three Mission Options
The RFI outlines three primary mission options: boosting Hubble to a higher orbit, servicing its systems to enhance performance, or conducting a controlled reentry. NASA is particularly interested in companies with capabilities for in-space satellite capture and servicing, citing rapid advancements in commercial space technology. However, the agency has made it clear this is not a request for proposals but a prelude to potential future collaborations.
The requirement includes that the boost and/or servicing mission must not harm the HST and that this mission is expected to occur by 2032,
the RFI states. NASA will provide technical data and coordination with its Goddard Space Flight Center team to facilitate rendezvous, capture, and servicing operations. The agency also seeks input on risk mitigation strategies, cost estimates, and potential partnerships, including international collaborators.
Historically, Hubble’s orbit has been adjusted via space shuttle missions. The last such effort, STS-125 in 2009, did not reboost the telescope’s altitude, leaving it vulnerable to decay. A soft-capture mechanism installed during that mission could simplify future servicing, but the technical and financial hurdles remain significant. Northrop Grumman’s Mission Extension Vehicle (MEV) has demonstrated on-orbit satellite servicing, but Hubble’s size and age present unique challenges.
The Legacy and the Loss
Despite its impending end, Hubble remains a vital asset for astrophysics, with a 7:1 oversubscription rate for observation time. Its contributions span from studying black holes to mapping exoplanet atmospheres, with a scientific portfolio that evolved and grew well beyond what it was initially designed to do,
according to Brad Cenko, principal investigator at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. However, no replacement is expected before the 2040s, leaving a critical gap in observational capabilities.
We're all definitely very sad. There's definitely grief,
said Caryl Gronwall, lead scientist for the Swift observatory, which recently faced a similar fate. While Hubble’s reentry is unlikely to pose a direct threat to humans, its demise would mark the end of an era for space science. NASA’s current focus is on gathering commercial interest, but the agency has not committed to funding a rescue mission.
NASA reopens prospect of commercial Hubble Space Telescope servicing missionhttps://t.co/KvQ5OhLZkm
— https://x.com/free_space/status/2115895445751021596
As the November 30 deadline approaches, the space community watches closely. Whether Hubble’s story ends with a controlled reentry or a second life depends on the feasibility of commercial solutions and the urgency of NASA’s timeline. For now, the telescope continues its final orbit, a relic of human ingenuity drifting toward an uncertain fate.
