NASA Opens Commercial Bidding to Save Hubble Space Telescope
The Hubble Space Telescope, celebrating 36 years of operation in 2026, faces what could be its final chapter. On October 29, NASA published a Request for Information (RFI) on the SAM.gov portal seeking companies capable of conducting commercial missions to reboost, service, or execute a controlled reentry of the observatory — a reversal of the agency's position that, in 2024, had dismissed similar plans.
The RFI, published by the Goddard Space Flight Center, sets an ambitious timeline: any mission must occur by 2032. Without intervention, NASA's analysis indicates that Hubble may experience an uncontrolled atmospheric reentry between 2033 and 2034, with a 10 percent probability by September 2032 and 50 percent by December 2033. The telescope has no propulsion system to maintain its orbit, and atmospheric drag has been continuously reducing its altitude since the last Space Shuttle Columbia visit in 2002.
Three paths to save an icon
The RFI proposes three distinct options, each with specific technical challenges. The first — and most ambitious — is to raise Hubble to at least 600 kilometers (373 miles) of altitude. According to Ars Technica, this reboost could keep the telescope operational for at least 25 additional years, significantly widening the window for deep-universe observation.
The second option involves a servicing mission to improve the telescope's capabilities, increasing its resilience and orbital longevity. The third, more conservative approach would be to capture Hubble and guide it into a controlled atmospheric reentry, eliminating the risk of unplanned destruction over populated areas.
In every scenario, the contractor would provide the launch vehicle, servicing spacecraft, mission operations, and crew if applicable. NASA would only provide technical information and consultation with its Goddard experts.
Jared Isaacman's reversal
The current NASA effort traces its roots to the work of Jared Isaacman, the current agency administrator and billionaire commercial astronaut. In 2022, Isaacman approached NASA with a proposal for a Crew Dragon servicing mission, funding the majority of the project — including a minimum 50-kilometer reboost. That initiative encountered political and budgetary resistance, eventually being abandoned in 2024.
The current RFI represents a more mature and less sponsor-dependent approach. Rather than one billionaire bankrolling a personal mission, NASA is mapping what the entire commercial aerospace industry has to offer — and at what cost.
What the space industry has responded
Companies such as Astroscale and Starfish Space already hold demonstration contracts for space servicing and refueling with the U.S. Space Force and NASA itself, as reported by Ars Technica. Northrop Grumman, meanwhile, has demonstrated experience with the Mission Extension Vehicle (MEV), a satellite designed to service other satellites in orbit.
NASA's Space Technology Office explicitly listed Astroscale, Momentus, and Katalyst Space Technologies as potential respondents. The RFI also notes the need for orbital capture and precise maneuvering capabilities — competencies that have become more accessible in the past five years with the expansion of the commercial space servicing sector.
The scientific impact of losing Hubble
Hubble is not just a telescope; it is the most productive scientific instrument in astronomy history. Since its 1990 launch, the observatory has contributed to more than 2,200 peer-reviewed research papers, including discoveries about the accelerating expansion of the universe, the existence of supermassive black holes in neighboring galaxies, and the characterization of the first exoplanet atmospheres.
Retired astronaut John Grunsfeld, who led the STS-125 Hubble repair mission in 2009, described to The Register the budget cuts over the years as "a death by a thousand small cuts" — threats that diminish the telescope's capabilities without ever generating dramatic headlines. Hubble continues operating with instruments designed for the 1990s, with no hardware upgrades since 2009, while modern infrared sensors and adaptive optics have evolved dramatically.
What comes next
The RFI remains open until November 30 at 3 p.m. EST. NASA has not committed any budget to the mission and emphasized repeatedly that this is only a market research exercise — not a formal procurement solicitation. If responses prove promising, the agency may publish a follow-up Request for Proposals (RFP), possibly with allocated funding.
Meanwhile, Hubble continues observing the universe at 547 kilometers of altitude, producing images that still fuel discoveries today — and waiting to see whether someone is ready to extend its life when the orbit finally fails.
Sources: NASA Science, Beyond Tomorrow, SatellitePro ME
✓ Independent sources cross-checked and verified before publishing
