NASA plans unprecedented robotic rescue mission to boost decaying orbit of Swift space telescope
By
Daniel Clery
Summary
NASA is racing to launch an unprecedented robotic rescue mission to save the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, a 22-year-old space telescope that detects gamma-ray bursts, x-rays, and ultraviolet light from cosmic events. The telescope's orbit is decaying and it could fall to Earth before year's end. No one has ever attempted to robotically grab and boost the orbit of a scientific satellite before, aside from a few demonstration missions. Astronomers consider Swift too valuable to lose due to its critical role in detecting and studying explosive cosmic phenomena.
Source
bskyNASA plans unprecedented robotic rescue mission to boost decaying orbit of Swift space telescopescience.orgKey quotes
· 3 pulledNo one has ever attempted to robotically grab and boost the orbit of a scientific satellite, aside from a few demonstration missions.
Astronomers say Swift, which detects bursts of gamma rays, x-rays, and ultraviolet light from exploding stars and other objects, is too valuable to lose.
Before the end of the month, a robotic spacecraft will take off on an unprecedented rescue mission.
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