This happens because of atmospheric drag, and the Hubble Space Telescope is not equipped with a propulsion system to adjust its own orbit. According to NASA’s analysis, if left unchecked, the telescope will likely re-enter Earth’s atmosphere in 2033 or 2034, eventually crashing back onto the planet. Hoping to delay this conclusion, NASA has issued a formal Request for Information seeking proposals from the private sector for “in-space servicing” of the famous telescope.