Hubble Space Telescope
A large space telescope launched by NASA in 1990, operating in low Earth orbit. It conducts astronomical observations in the visible and ultraviolet bands and has produced numerous epoch-making scientific results.
Timeline (last 90 days)
The Hubble Space Telescope currently operates in a low Earth orbit at about 540 kilometers.
Hubble is not equipped with a propulsion system and cannot raise its own orbit, relying only on external spacecraft intervention.
NASA says Hubble is currently not at risk of immediately falling into the atmosphere and burning up, but if its orbit is not raised, it is expected to re-enter the atmosphere in the early-to-mid 2030s.
NASA is soliciting proposals from commercial space companies, seeking to provide Hubble with orbit-raising services.
The Hubble Space Telescope has been operating in low Earth orbit since its launch in 1990.
Hubble was not designed with a docking interface, so commercial on-orbit servicing missions are more difficult and may require custom capture devices or non-cooperative docking technology.
The James Webb Space Telescope mainly works in the infrared band and excels at observing early galaxies in the universe and penetrating dust clouds; Hubble, meanwhile, has unique advantages in the visible and ultraviolet bands.
Hubble's ultraviolet observations can detect the escape of the upper atmospheres of exoplanets, while Webb's infrared observations can analyze the composition of the lower atmosphere; joint observations by the two can provide more complete physical information.
Commercial space companies already possess or are developing on-orbit servicing capabilities and could in theory provide Hubble with propulsion module docking or orbit-raising operations.
Commercial orbit-raising missions face multiple uncertainties, including the reliability of docking technology, the in-orbit performance of propulsion systems, cost-sharing mechanisms, and the risks of Hubble's aging components.
All Facts (10)
Commercial orbit-raising missions face multiple uncertainties, including the reliability of docking technology, the in-orbit performance of propulsion systems, cost-sharing mechanisms, and the risks of Hubble's aging components.
50%UnverifiedHubble is not equipped with a propulsion system and cannot raise its own orbit, relying only on external spacecraft intervention.
50%UnverifiedCommercial space companies already possess or are developing on-orbit servicing capabilities and could in theory provide Hubble with propulsion module docking or orbit-raising operations.
50%UnverifiedThe Hubble Space Telescope currently operates in a low Earth orbit at about 540 kilometers.
50%UnverifiedThe Hubble Space Telescope has been operating in low Earth orbit since its launch in 1990.
50%UnverifiedHubble was not designed with a docking interface, so commercial on-orbit servicing missions are more difficult and may require custom capture devices or non-cooperative docking technology.
50%UnverifiedThe James Webb Space Telescope mainly works in the infrared band and excels at observing early galaxies in the universe and penetrating dust clouds; Hubble, meanwhile, has unique advantages in the visible and ultraviolet bands.
50%UnverifiedHubble's ultraviolet observations can detect the escape of the upper atmospheres of exoplanets, while Webb's infrared observations can analyze the composition of the lower atmosphere; joint observations by the two can provide more complete physical information.
50%UnverifiedNASA says Hubble is currently not at risk of immediately falling into the atmosphere and burning up, but if its orbit is not raised, it is expected to re-enter the atmosphere in the early-to-mid 2030s.
50%UnverifiedNASA is soliciting proposals from commercial space companies, seeking to provide Hubble with orbit-raising services.
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