NASA Seeks Commercial Solutions to Save the Hubble Space Telescope as Time Runs Out

The Hubble Space Telescope has given humanity some of its most remarkable views of the universe. Now, after more than 36 years in orbit, the legendary observatory faces a new challenge: its altitude is gradually decreasing, and without intervention, it is expected to re-enter Earth's atmosphere in the coming decade. NASA is therefore turning to the commercial space industry to explore ways of extending Hubble's operational life or safely bringing its mission to an end.

On October 29, 2026, NASA issued a Request for Information (RFI) inviting commercial companies to describe their current and near-term capabilities for servicing, boosting or disposing of the telescope. The agency expects any potential intervention to take place by 2032, ahead of Hubble's projected atmospheric re-entry in 2033 or 2034. Responses are due by November 30, 2026, at 3 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.

NASA Is Considering Three Possible Options for Hubble

NASA is not limiting its search to a single rescue plan. Instead, the agency is examining three different approaches to managing the telescope's future.

The first option is to raise Hubble into a higher orbit. NASA is seeking information about spacecraft capable of capturing the observatory and moving it to an altitude of at least 600 kilometres. A higher orbit would reduce the effects of atmospheric drag and could allow Hubble to continue operating for considerably longer.

The second possibility involves performing maintenance or upgrades while the telescope remains in orbit. Companies are being asked to consider technologies that could improve Hubble's performance, strengthen ageing systems or help it continue its scientific work.

The third option is a controlled end-of-mission operation. Rather than allowing Hubble to descend uncontrollably into the atmosphere, a dedicated spacecraft could guide it through a controlled re-entry or move it into an appropriate disposal orbit. This would help reduce the risks associated with an uncontrolled descent.

According to NASA's requirements, any potential servicing or orbit-raising operation must not damage the telescope and is expected to be completed by 2032. Companies would be responsible for providing the launch vehicle, servicing spacecraft, mission operations and crew, if required. NASA would provide technical information, specialist support and coordination with the Hubble operations team.

There is an important distinction, however: the current announcement is a Request for Information, not a confirmed contract or a commitment to purchase a rescue mission. NASA first wants to understand which companies could carry out such an operation, what technologies they would need, how much it might cost and whether it could be completed within the available timeframe.

Why Is Hubble Gradually Falling Back Toward Earth?

The Hubble Space Telescope was launched aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery on April 24, 1990. Although it was initially placed in an orbit approximately 600 kilometres above Earth, its altitude has gradually decreased over the years because of atmospheric drag.

Space is not a perfect vacuum. Even at the relatively high altitudes where satellites operate, traces of Earth's atmosphere create a small amount of resistance. Over time, that drag reduces a spacecraft's orbital altitude and can eventually cause it to descend into the atmosphere.

Hubble does not have its own propulsion system to raise or maintain its orbit. During the Space Shuttle era, NASA astronauts were able to boost the telescope's altitude as part of servicing missions. The Space Shuttle Columbia's 2002 mission included one such reboost. Although Atlantis carried out the final servicing mission in 2009, that flight did not raise Hubble's orbit. When the Space Shuttle programme ended in 2011, the agency also lost the ability to send astronauts to Hubble using that system.

NASA's previously published data placed Hubble at an altitude of approximately 483 kilometres in 2024. The telescope continues to lose altitude, and current projections indicate that it could re-enter Earth's atmosphere during 2033 or 2034 if no intervention takes place. These estimates can change depending on solar activity and atmospheric conditions.

NASA's proposed target of at least 600 kilometres is therefore significant. Raising Hubble to a higher orbit could reduce atmospheric drag and extend its scientific lifetime. The exact number of additional years would depend on the mission design and the conditions in orbit.

Why James Webb Cannot Fully Replace Hubble

The effort to preserve Hubble is not simply about protecting a historic spacecraft. Despite its age, the observatory continues to make valuable contributions to modern astronomy.

The arrival of the James Webb Space Telescope has sometimes led to the assumption that Hubble is no longer needed. However, the two observatories are designed to study different parts of the electromagnetic spectrum and complement one another. Webb focuses primarily on infrared observations, while Hubble remains especially valuable for ultraviolet and visible-light astronomy. NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, meanwhile, is designed to survey much larger areas of the sky. It will expand the capabilities of the observatory fleet rather than directly replace Hubble's unique role.

NASA is also developing plans for the Habitable Worlds Observatory, a future flagship mission currently targeted for the 2040s. Keeping Hubble operational for longer could help prevent a significant gap in scientific capabilities before the next generation of observatories becomes available.

Why Previous Rescue Plans Did Not Move Forward

This is not the first time NASA has considered ways to raise Hubble's orbit. In 2022, SpaceX and the Polaris Program proposed studying the possibility of using a Crew Dragon spacecraft to move the telescope into a higher orbit.

NASA and SpaceX subsequently signed an unfunded agreement to examine the technical feasibility of the concept. The study was intended to determine whether Dragon could safely approach Hubble, capture it and move it into a more stable orbit. However, after reviewing the commercial capabilities available at the time, NASA decided in 2024 not to proceed with an orbit-raising mission.

The commercial space industry has continued to evolve since then. More companies are developing technologies for satellite capture, robotic servicing, orbital manoeuvres and in-space maintenance. NASA's latest request is an opportunity to assess whether these advances have made a Hubble rescue mission more realistic.

The Swift Mission Demonstrated Both the Promise and the Challenges of Commercial Servicing

Another recent project helps explain why NASA is looking again at commercial spacecraft servicing. In 2026, Katalyst Space Technologies received a $30 million contract to develop a mission intended to raise the orbit of NASA's Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory.

The company's robotic servicing spacecraft, LINK, launched in July 2026. However, problems with its attitude-control system prevented it from safely approaching and capturing Swift. LINK managed to get within approximately 12 to 15 kilometres of the observatory, but the planned capture and orbit-raising manoeuvre could not be completed. The mission ended on September 25, 2026, when LINK re-entered Earth's atmosphere.

The Swift project demonstrated that a commercial company can develop and launch a sophisticated robotic spacecraft on a relatively short schedule. At the same time, it highlighted just how technically demanding satellite capture and servicing can be. Working with Hubble, a much larger and more scientifically valuable observatory, would require an even greater degree of precision and risk management.

A Critical Period for the Future of Hubble

NASA's latest initiative could become one of the most important turning points in the future of the Hubble Space Telescope. The agency wants to preserve the observatory's scientific contribution for as long as possible, while also preparing for a safe end to its mission if an extension proves impractical.

Responses from commercial space companies over the coming weeks should help NASA assess which technologies could be used, how much a potential mission might cost and whether it could be completed before the 2032 target.

Although no rescue mission has been approved yet, the new initiative offers Hubble another possible path forward. The telescope that transformed humanity's understanding of the universe could continue its work with the help of new commercial space technologies. Otherwise, its eventual re-entry in the 2030s will mark the end of one of the most influential observatories in the history of astronomy.