NASA considers new plan to raise Hubble's orbit and extend its lifetime

At its current rate of orbital decay — Hubble's orbital height has fallen by approximately 18 miles (30 kilometers) since its launch in 1990 — experts estimate it will burn up in our atmosphere in the mid-to-late 2030s.

Knowing that Hubble's days are numbered, NASA issued a Request for Information (RFI) last year, calling on the private sector to develop the technology and methodology required to re-boost Hubble into a higher orbit.

SpaceX has expressed an interest, stating that its private Polaris Program missions, led by billionaire Jared Isaacman, could incorporate a rendezvous with Hubble that would presumably see a Crew Dragon spacecraft raise the telescope's orbit.

Now, Momentus Space and Astroscale have submitted their joint proposal, which would see them lift Hubble to a new orbit and remove any potentially damaging debris from that orbit.

Raising Hubble's orbit

This week, on Tuesday, May 9, Momentus Space announced that its Vigoride-5 spacecraft had successfully used an experimental water-propulsion system to lift its orbit by roughly 1.86 miles (3 kilometers).

"Even at 33, Hubble is fully capable of continuing its mission; where it is aging is in its orbital stability,” John Rood, Momentus chief executive officer, explained in a press statement. "I am thrilled that we collaborated to offer NASA a very cost-effective way to continue to operate this billion-dollar scientific investment by leveraging new robotic in-space servicing technology."

Astroscale, meanwhile, is developing an orbital debris removal service. The two companies hope to launch a Vigoride space tug to low Earth orbit. Once there, it would attempt to raise Hubble's orbit by roughly 30 miles (50 km), taking it higher than its original orbit. If they do this, Hubble could continue to add to its already-impressive legacy if its hardware continues to hold out.