As NASA evaluates this and other concepts proposed to the agency, the two companies have unveiled details on how they can increase the Hubble Space Telescope’s orbit. Astroscale and Momentus said on May 9 that they responded to a request for information (RFI) NASA issued in December 2022 to ask the industry for concepts on how they could increase Hubble’s slowly descending orbit after the last shuttle maintenance mission in 2009.

The two companies have offered to work together to attach a vehicle to the telescope and raise it into orbit. Its concepts include using technologies developed by Astroscale to deploy and extend the lifespan of Momentus’ satellites and orbiters.

As part of the proposal, the Momentus orbiter, launched with a small launch vehicle, would approach Hubble using Astroscale technology. The device will increase Hubble’s orbit, which is currently at an altitude of about 527 kilometers, by 50 kilometers before it leaves. The device can then be used to remove orbital debris from orbits approaching Hubble.

“We’ve found that our product lines are synergistic to support NASA’s grand mission,” Momentus CEO John Rudd said in a statement announcing the concept. “I’m thrilled to be partnering with NASA to provide a very cost-effective way to sustain this billion-dollar investment in science using new robotic maintenance technologies in space.”

Astroscale is already developing all the elements needed to bring about such an improvement, but a company spokesperson said they’ve decided to work together, “because it’s a commercially viable, all-American solution for small businesses to NASA.” . The company added that the partnership would also reduce program risk and allow companies to share costs.

NASA said at RFI that it expects any company it chooses to later restore Hubble “without a change of funds.” NASA will not order a reboot mission, but said the mission could be a demonstration of satellite maintenance capabilities that could attract other paying commercial or government customers.

A NASA spokesperson told SpaceNews on May 12 that the agency had received eight responses to the RFI that are currently under review. It does not disclose who provided the answers, and Astroscale and Momentus are the only companies with publicly available responses. NASA stressed that RFI is an effort to help the agency determine whether and how to restore Hubble’s orbit. “Responses to the RFI are not proposals, but information that the government should consider when determining next steps.”

NASA released the RFI nearly three months after announcing it had signed a Space Act agreement with SpaceX to study the Hubble reboot mission using the Crew Dragon spacecraft. This proposed mission could be part of the Polaris Astronaut Special Mission Program funded by billionaire Jared Isaacman, who attended the September 2022 briefing announcing the research.

Neither NASA nor SpaceX disclosed the details of the work, which was completed about six months after it began. On May 12, a NASA representative confirmed that the study was complete. “The feasibility study has been completed and NASA is now evaluating the results internally and working to determine next steps.”

Hubble is still in good shape and is in high demand among astronomers. The orbit of the spacecraft is getting smaller and smaller due to atmospheric drag, and NASA had previously estimated it to have a 50% chance of returning by 2037.

Hubble’s research into raising its orbit comes amid a surge in activity in the satellite maintenance industry, from efforts to extend the life of stationary orbiting communications satellites to refueling and repairing spacecraft. There is also growing interest in the removal of debris and the controlled re-entry of unused satellites.

“Hubble’s need for re-expansion should be an important wake-up call for why the space industry needs a dynamic and responsive space infrastructure, and in this case, to expand the exploration capabilities of our universe,” said Ron Lopez, president and general manager. Astroscale USA’s statement about Astroscale’s collaboration with Momentus. “Expanding space maintenance and assembly makes us rethink how our investments in space are managed; It is the foundation on which the new space age is built.”