{"id":303578,"date":"2026-02-26T18:19:07","date_gmt":"2026-02-26T18:19:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/303578\/"},"modified":"2026-02-26T18:19:07","modified_gmt":"2026-02-26T18:19:07","slug":"hubble-could-come-crashing-down-to-earth-as-early-as-2028-scientists-warn","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/303578\/","title":{"rendered":"Hubble Could Come Crashing Down to Earth as Early as 2028, Scientists Warn"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Hubble Space Telescope, one of NASA\u2019s most iconic scientific instruments, has been an invaluable tool for astronomers for over three decades. However, recent data reveals that its orbit is decaying at a faster rate than anticipated, raising concerns about the telescope\u2019s future. According toThe Register, the Hubble may re-enter the Earth\u2019s atmosphere as early as 2028, as its altitude drops due to orbital decay. <\/p>\n

Hubble\u2019s Accelerating Orbit Decay: A Growing Concern<\/p>\n

Since its launch in 1990, Hubble has provided groundbreaking images and scientific data that have reshaped our understanding of the universe. However, the telescope\u2019s mission is reaching a critical juncture. Recent reports from astronomer Jonathan McDowell<\/a> show that Hubble\u2019s orbit is rapidly decaying, and the altitude loss has become noticeable. Initially placed at an altitude above 600 km, the telescope\u2019s orbit has since dropped below 500 km, with no mission yet approved to boost its position. This accelerated descent is largely attributed to increased solar activity, which has expanded Earth\u2019s atmosphere, creating more drag on Hubble\u2019s orbit.<\/p>\n

The implications of this decay are concerning, as Hubble <\/a>was not designed to last indefinitely. While it has been successfully maintained and serviced by Space Shuttle missions in the past, those options are no longer available. The telescope was last serviced in 2009, and without a clear plan to reboost Hubble\u2019s altitude, the aging spacecraft is at risk of eventually re-entering the atmosphere. McDowell\u2019s plot suggests that without intervention, the telescope could be lost as early as 2028. The rising solar activity only exacerbates this problem, speeding up the inevitable.<\/p>\n

Because it’s been a while, here is an update of my plot on the altitude of the Hubble Space Telescope versus time<\/p>\n

[image or embed]<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Jonathan McDowell (@planet4589.bsky.social<\/a>) 25 f\u00e9vrier 2026 \u00e0 07:11<\/a><\/p>\n

NASA\u2019s Struggle with Funding and Maintenance<\/p>\n

One of the key factors contributing to Hubble\u2019s precarious situation is its stagnating funding. Dr. John Grunsfeld, former NASA astronaut and associate administrator for NASA\u2019s Science Mission Directorate, pointed out that the budget for Hubble has significantly decreased over the years. As Grunsfeld told The Register<\/a>, \u201cWe\u2019re already down about 30 percent in funding for Hubble.\u201d This funding cutback has led to a reduction in the resources available for the telescope\u2019s maintenance, including its ability to extend its lifespan with a much-needed altitude boost.<\/p>\n

The lack of funding reflects broader financial constraints at NASA, which has prioritized new missions over the upkeep of older projects like Hubble. Despite its continued success in capturing stunning images and yielding crucial data, the lack of investment means that Hubble is slowly being \u201cwhittled away.\u201d Grunsfeld\u2019s assertion, \u201cThey\u2019re just trying to whittle away at it,\u201d underscores the frustrations of those who have worked on the project. This situation is not unique to Hubble; it represents a broader issue of funding disparities for older, successful programs within NASA.<\/p>\n

NASA\u2019s inability to secure enough financial support for Hubble\u2019s future is compounded by the reality that the spacecraft\u2019s maintenance is increasingly difficult and expensive. With new missions like the James Webb Space Telescope already active, there\u2019s a perception that NASA may be less motivated to invest in Hubble\u2019s continued operations. But the truth remains: Hubble\u2019s potential loss would represent a major blow to scientific progress and our ability to explore the cosmos.<\/p>\n

The Impact of Solar Activity on Hubble\u2019s Orbit<\/p>\n

Solar activity plays a pivotal role in the accelerated decay of Hubble\u2019s orbit. As the sun enters periods of heightened activity, the solar wind and increased radiation cause Earth\u2019s atmosphere to expand, creating more drag on objects in low Earth orbit. This phenomenon, known as \u201corbital decay,\u201d is responsible for the rapid decline in Hubble\u2019s altitude.<\/p>\n

NASA has been closely monitoring this situation, but the influence of solar cycles cannot be entirely controlled. As the sun approaches its next peak of activity in 2025, it\u2019s expected that the increased solar radiation will cause even more drag on the telescope. While Hubble is still operational, the expansion of Earth\u2019s atmosphere presents a major challenge, and the telescope\u2019s future hangs in the balance.<\/p>\n

Given the current trajectory, it\u2019s clear that Hubble\u2019s orbital decay will continue to worsen. Without a mission to boost its orbit, the telescope is on a path toward inevitable re-entry into Earth\u2019s atmosphere, where it will burn up. This makes it crucial for NASA to either allocate the resources needed for a reboost mission or to consider alternative ways of preserving Hubble\u2019s legacy. However, as we approach the latter years of the decade, it appears that time is running out for this iconic observatory.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Hubble Space Telescope, one of NASA\u2019s most iconic scientific instruments, has been an invaluable tool for astronomers…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":303579,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[23],"tags":[111,139,69,147,392],"class_list":["post-303578","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-space","tag-new-zealand","tag-newzealand","tag-nz","tag-science","tag-space"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/303578","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=303578"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/303578\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/303579"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=303578"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=303578"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=303578"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}