NASA interested in Hubble reboost if costs can be reduced
AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication
NASA is open to reboosting the Hubble Space Telescope if its operating costs can be reduced. The agency is currently preparing to launch the Link servicing spacecraft to reboost the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, a gamma-ray observatory in a decaying orbit. The Link spacecraft, built by Katalyst Space, arrived at the Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia on June 5. NASA awarded Katalyst a $30 million contract to develop and launch Link. The success of this mission could provide a model for reboosting Hubble, whose orbit is also decaying, with a median reentry date of 2033. NASA spent $98.8 million on Hubble in fiscal year 2025, and reducing these costs is crucial for a potential reboost.
💡 Why It Matters
- · Reducing Hubble's operating costs is key to extending its lifespan, potentially bridging the gap until the launch of the Habitable Worlds Observatory in the 2040s.
- · Lowering costs would make reboosting Hubble a more viable option.