Hubble Telescope’s Final Countdown: Could It Disappear Sooner Than Expected?
The Daily Galaxy••science
Key Points:
- The Hubble Space Telescope, launched in 1990, is experiencing a declining orbit and may reenter Earth's atmosphere as early as 2029 due to increased solar activity accelerating its descent.
- NASA has explored "reboost" missions, including a potential partnership with SpaceX in 2022 to raise Hubble's orbit, but no official plans have been announced to extend its operational life.
- Hubble's retirement would create a significant gap in space-based astronomical observations, as it has provided unparalleled insights into the universe's expansion, dark energy, and galaxy evolution.
- A new privately-funded space telescope, Lazuli, backed by former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, is planned for launch by 2028, featuring a larger mirror and advanced instruments
