NASA hopes the commercial space industry can help save Hubble
Gravity is a cruel mistress, slowly dragging the famed telescope ever closer to its ultimate demise with every day. Hubble is in no immediate danger of burning up in the Earth's atmosphere, but its time will run out in the early to mid 2030s unless its orbit is boosted. So NASA is taking proposals from […]
Hubble Space Telescope is set to plummet to Earth sometime in the 2030s, as gravity inexorably draws it down. NASA is now exploring the possibility of utilizing the commercial space industry to prolong the telescope's lifespan. Administrator Jared Isaacman stated, "Hubble still has important science ahead of it, and we should be looking at every reasonable opportunity to keep it delivering for as long as possible."
The agency is open to cost-effective methods of extending Hubble's orbit, as this would result in additional discoveries, scientific advancements, and expanded knowledge of the cosmos. NASA will accept proposals until November 30th at 3 PM ET.
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