NASA Seeks Industry Ideas for Commercial Hubble Space Telescope Servicing Mission

NASA has issued a Request for Information (RFI) to gauge commercial capabilities for servicing the Hubble Space Telescope, the agency announced on Oct. 29. The move could extend the life of the 32-year-old observatory, which has revolutionized astronomy but is gradually degrading in orbit. The RFI seeks input on how a private mission might safely rendezvous with Hubble, perform repairs, or boost its orbit. NASA emphasizes that no specific mission is planned, but the information will help shape future strategies. Hubble, launched in 1990, has been serviced five times by space shuttle astronauts, most recently in 2009. Since the shuttle's retirement, no vehicle has been capable of reaching the telescope. A commercial servicing mission could use spacecraft like SpaceX's Dragon or Northrop Grumman's Cygnus. The RFI is open to all U.S. companies and organizations. Responses are due by Nov. 24. This initiative reflects NASA's growing reliance on public-private partnerships to sustain critical space assets. If successful, a commercial servicing could keep Hubble operating into the 2030s, alongside the James Webb Space Telescope.