NASA launches daring robotic mission to rescue ageing Swift space telescope
NASA launched a $30-million robotic rescue mission on June 30 to save its ageing Swift space telescope, which is falling towards Earth. The mission, developed by US startup Katalyst, involves a robot latching onto Swift and towing it into a stable orbit. The Swift space telescope, officially the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, was launched in 2004 for a two-year mission to study gamma-ray bursts, which are explosive deaths of stars. Placed in a 600-km-high low Earth orbit, Swift would eventually burn up in the atmosphere without its own propulsion. The mission is considered challenging with a 50-50 chance of success, highlighting the complexities of space salvage operations.
Key Points
- NASA initiated a $30-million robotic rescue mission to prevent the Swift space telescope from re-entering Earth's atmosphere.
- The mission involves a robot, developed by Katalyst, to latch onto Swift and move it to a stable orbit.
- The Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, launched in 2004, was designed to study gamma-ray bursts.
- Without propulsion, the telescope in low Earth orbit would eventually drift and burn up.
- The mission is considered challenging with a 50-50 chance of success.
Exam Facts
- Mission cost: $30 million.
- Launch date: June 30.
- Space telescope: Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory (Swift).
- Launch year: 2004.
- Original mission: two-year study of gamma-ray bursts.
- Orbit: 600-km-high low Earth orbit.
- Rescue spacecraft developer: U.S. startup Katalyst.
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