# Could NASA contract out the Hubble upgrades in order to keep it operational? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 1, 2004, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-nasa-contract-out-the-hubble-upgrades-in-order-to-keep-it-operational/243011 "2004-05-01T16:47:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![rabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/919ad9/32.png) [@rabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rabbit)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2004, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-nasa-contract-out-the-hubble-upgrades-in-order-to-keep-it-operational/243011/1 "2004-05-01T16:47:56Z")
Maybe I missed something in the reports, but I was under the impression that NASA didn’t want to continue servicing the Hubble space telescope due to concerns over the dangers of space walks to their personel. Is there any reason why they couldn’t farm out the work? Im guessing that the Russians for one would probably have no such concerns should the Americans be willing to pay for the service. Has something like this been proposed/considered? ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2004, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-nasa-contract-out-the-hubble-upgrades-in-order-to-keep-it-operational/243011/2 "2004-05-01T16:57:54Z")
Probably not: > [@](#): > > **Can someone else service Hubble?** > > When Hubble is being serviced, it actually docks with the space shuttle. Hubble was built to be compatible with the space shuttle’s design and components. It would be difficult to simply substitute in another spacecraft. There are no plans at this time to have another agency service Hubble. From [here](http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/newsdesk/future/). Lots of other good information on this subject, too.