Key facts
- NASA is launching a mission to save the Swift Observatory from re-entering Earth's atmosphere.
- The mission involves a $30 million operation by startup Katalyst Space Technologies.
- Katalyst will use a robotic spacecraft, Lift, to boost Swift to a higher orbit.
- Swift has been sinking due to increased solar activity and needs to reach a stable orbit above 185 miles.
- The rescue operation is planned to begin as early as this week.
- If successful, Swift could resume scientific operations by September.
NASA is initiating a critical mission to save the Swift Observatory, an aging space telescope launched in 2004, from falling back to Earth. The $30 million operation, spearheaded by startup Katalyst Space Technologies, involves a specially designed robotic spacecraft named Lift. This three-armed vehicle will rendezvous with Swift and boost it to a higher, more stable orbit, preventing its re-entry which is estimated to occur in October.
Swift has been losing altitude due to increased solar activity, which has intensified its orbital decay. The mission aims to elevate the telescope from its current 224 miles to a target orbit of 373 miles above Earth. If successful, Swift could be back in operation by September, continuing its work hunting for cosmic explosions like gamma-ray bursts. This mission marks a significant step in developing in-space servicing capabilities, with Katalyst planning future missions to refuel and repair satellites, and potentially service the Hubble Space Telescope in the coming years.
NASA officials emphasized the value of Swift, describing it as a crucial asset for quickly capturing astronomical events and a "national treasure." The agency has turned off Swift's scientific instruments to conserve power and slow its descent, buying time for the rescue. The success of this mission could pave the way for a new era of space robotics, offering repair, refueling, and orbital adjustment services for valuable space assets.