NASA launches $30M rescue mission to boost aging Swift telescope to higher orbit
By
MARCIA DUNN AP aerospace writer
Summary
NASA is undertaking a $30 million 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 mission launches this week from the Marshall Islands, aiming to extend Swift's life so it can continue detecting gamma-ray bursts and other cosmic explosions.
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bskyNASA launches $30M rescue mission to boost aging Swift telescope to higher orbitabcnews.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
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