Hubble Space Telescope Mission Extended For Another Five Years: Set To Fly Through To 2021
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has contractually extended the science operations and mission for its Hubble Space Telescope for an additional five years. The overachieving telescope was launched in 1990 and was supposed to travel through space until 2005, with a lifespan of just 15 years. The telescope has already eclipsed the original mission target and exceeded all expectations and will now be operational until at least June 30, 2021.
Hubble Space Telescope’s most recent mission, which was supposed to be its final mission, was expected to last until 2009 with the James Webb Space Telescope set to launch in 2018, according to CNet. Now both NASA telescopes will operate alongside each other with the James Webb Space Telescope providing specialized infrared imaging.
“Hubble is expected to continue to provide valuable data into the 2020’s, securing its place in history as an outstanding general purpose observatory in areas ranging from our solar system to the distant universe.
“In 2018, NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope will be launched into space as the premier observatory of the next decade, serving astronomers worldwide to build on Hubble’s legacy of discoveries and help unlock some of the biggest mysteries of the universe.”
The Hubble Space Telescope was last serviced seven years ago in 2009 by NASA and is said to be “better than ever.” Hubble has continued to provide NASA, astronomers, and the world with the chance to see space phenomena like never before.
The humble Hubble telescope takes images that are not distorted by Earth’s atmosphere, therefore allowing scientists to watch stars and planets form, examine exoplanets, and capture the power of cosmic impact for the first time, as well as providing sensational photographs.
NASA has heralded the launch of the Hubble Space Telescope on April 24, 1990, as “the most significant advance in astronomy since Galileo’s telescope.”
The new mission, with a contract value of $2.03 billion, will start on July 1 and is a continuation of the current science program being run by the Space Telescope Science Institute. Hubble will continue to provide data on our solar system and beyond, according to the statement by NASA.
“After the final space shuttle servicing mission to the telescope in 2009, Hubble is better than ever. Hubble is expected to continue to provide valuable data into the 2020’s, securing its place in history as an outstanding general purpose observatory in areas ranging from our solar system to the distant universe.”
One agency was awarded the sole source mission extension contract on Thursday with a value of $2.03 billion, an increase of approximately $196.3 million, according to WUSA9. The contract covers the work necessary to continue the Hubble mission by the Space Telescope Science Institute.
The Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy was awarded the contract to continue Hubble’s science operations support which includes the products and services required to execute science system engineering, science ground system development, science operations, science research, grants management and public outreach support for Hubble, and data archive support for missions in the Mikulski Archive for Space Telescopes.
Hubble Space Telescope is now expected to retire in the 2020s after providing decades of valuable data and having two mission extensions. The telescope has already secured its place in history as an outstanding general purpose observatory in areas ranging from our solar system to the distant universe.
[Photo by NASA/Getty Images]
