NASA hires Katalyst Space Technologies for $30M mission to boost aging Swift telescope to higher orbit
By
Marcia Dunn
Summary
NASA is undertaking a rescue mission to save its aging Swift Observatory, which is at risk of falling back to Earth. The agency has hired startup Katalyst Space Technologies to boost the telescope to a higher orbit using a three-armed robotic spacecraft. The $30 million salvage operation involves launching a Pegasus rocket from the Marshall Islands, with liftoff possible as early as this week. Swift has been hunting for gamma-ray bursts and other cosmic explosions since its launch in 2004.
Source
bskyNASA hires Katalyst Space Technologies for $30M mission to boost aging Swift telescope to higher orbitthe-independent.comKey quotes
· 3 pulledNASA is racing to save an aging telescope from falling back to Earth with a daring rescue mission.
The $30 million salvage operation gets underway as soon as this week with the planned launch of a robotic lifesaver.
A three-armed spacecraft built by Katalyst will chase after Swift once it takes off from an atoll in the Pacific's Marshall Islands aboard an airplane-launched Pegasus rocket.
You might also wanna read
Katalyst Space to Launch Rescue Mission for NASA's Falling Swift Observatory
Arizona-based startup Katalyst Space is attempting a rapid rescue mission for NASA's aging Swift Observatory, which has been studying gamma-
forbes.com·10d ago
NASA to spend $30 million on unprecedented rescue mission to save aging Swift Observatory from orbital decay
NASA is paying $30 million for a first-of-its-kind rescue mission to boost the aging Swift Observatory, launched in 2004 on a planned two-ye
space.com·6d agoNASA to spend $30 million on unprecedented rescue mission to save aging Swift Observatory from orbital decay
NASA is paying $30 million for a first-of-its-kind rescue mission to boost the aging Swift Observatory, launched in 2004 on a planned two-ye
space.com·6d agoNASA to spend $30 million on unprecedented rescue mission to save aging Swift Observatory from orbital decay
NASA is paying $30 million for a first-of-its-kind rescue mission to boost the aging Swift Observatory, launched in 2004 on a planned two-ye
space.com·6d ago
Launch of Katalyst Space's LINK Servicing Spacecraft to Boost NASA's Swift Observatory Delayed by Weather
The launch of Katalyst Space's robotic servicing spacecraft LINK, intended to boost the orbit of NASA's Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, was
science.nasa.gov·2d ago
NASA and Katalyst Space Technologies race to rescue $500 million satellite mission in under a year
NASA asked three companies if they could build and launch a satellite in under a year to rescue a $500 million astronomy mission at risk of
arstechnica.com·13d ago
Weather Postpones Launch of Katalyst Space's LINK Mission to Boost NASA's Swift Observatory
The launch of Katalyst Space's robotic servicing spacecraft LINK, intended to boost the orbit of NASA's Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, was
science.nasa.gov·1d ago
NASA's final Pegasus XL rocket launch will send satellite to rescue Swift space telescope from orbital decay
NASA is launching a rescue mission on June 30 using the final flight of Northrop Grumman's Pegasus XL rocket. The mission, called Swift Boos
space.com·3d agoNASA's final Pegasus XL rocket launch will send satellite to rescue Swift space telescope from orbital decay
NASA is launching a rescue mission on June 30 using the final flight of Northrop Grumman's Pegasus XL rocket. The mission, called Swift Boos
space.com·3d ago
Comments
Sign in to join the conversation.
No comments yet. Be the first.