NASA dey ask commercial companies for information about ways to support Hubble Space Telescope as e dey old. For announcement wey dem publish on 30 October 2026, the agency say e issue the request the day before. This step na to examine wetin companies fit do and whether dem get interest. E no announce contractor wey dem choose, approved servicing mission or launch date.
The request cover three broad possibilities: to raise Hubble to higher orbit so im science work fit last longer, to service the telescope and improve wetin e fit do, and to manage im end through controlled return into Earth atmosphere or disposal for orbit. Na options wey dem dey consider, no be three operations wey NASA don commit to do. Any later mission decision different from this first stage of gathering information.
The reason to plan early concern physical forces. Air resistance dey gradually reduce the height of spacecraft wey dey low orbit round Earth, and Hubble no get propulsion system to maintain im own orbit. NASA say current analysis point to return into atmosphere around 2033–2034. Na projection, no be fixed date or report of immediate danger. The agency expect say any intervention go need happen by 2032.
According to the announcement, companies get until 3 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on 30 November to respond. That time na 9 p.m. for Nigeria, wey dey six hours ahead of that time zone. The deadline na for information wey dem go submit to NASA; no be date when astronauts or robot spacecraft go travel to Hubble. Make readers separate those two kinds of milestone.
Hubble remain joint project of NASA and European Space Agency. NASA Goddard Space Flight Center dey manage the telescope and mission operations, while Space Telescope Science Institute dey carry out science operations. For Nigerian astronomy readers, wetin matter na the possibility to keep this established observatory producing discoveries, while dem responsibly plan for the end of im work. This request never secure extra years of service.
The next evidence to watch na whether NASA go move from gathering ideas to choosing one specific approach. Capability wey company propose, agreement wey get funding and servicing flight wey don complete na different things. For now, the verified development na say NASA don invite company responses while explaining the falling orbit and planning period wey make this work necessary.