NASA launches $30M robotic rescue mission to save aging Swift telescope from falling to Earth
By
Marcia Dunn
Summary
NASA has hired startup Katalyst Space Technologies for a $30 million robotic rescue mission to boost the aging Swift Observatory to a higher orbit. Launched in 2004, Swift has been sinking faster due to recent intense solar activity and risks crashing back to Earth. The mission involves a three-armed spacecraft launching from the Marshall Islands to chase after Swift and extend its operational life for continued cosmic explosion hunting.
Source
bskyNASA launches $30M robotic rescue mission to save aging Swift telescope from falling to Earthapnews.comKey quotes
· 5 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.
NASA hired startup Katalyst Space Technologies to boost the Swift Observatory to a higher orbit where it can continue hunting for some of the universe's biggest explosions.
Launched in 2004, Swift has been sinking faster and faster because of recent intense solar activity.
It needs to get to a higher orbit as soon as possible to survive. Otherwise, it will come crashing down.
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