NASA prepares to launch rescue to save telescope from falling to Earth
Summary
NASA plans to launch a robotic mission this week to save the Swift space telescope from falling back to Earth by moving it to a higher orbit. The mission is carried out by the startup Katalyst Space Technologies, which will use a special robotic spacecraft called Lift to catch Swift and raise its orbit.Key Facts
- The Swift telescope, launched in 2004, is losing altitude faster due to increased solar activity and risks falling back to Earth.
- NASA hired Katalyst Space Technologies to build a robotic rescue spacecraft named Lift.
- Lift has three robot arms with pinching grippers designed to grab Swift and boost it to a higher, safer orbit.
- The mission launch could happen as early as Tuesday from the Marshall Islands using a Pegasus rocket dropped from an airplane.
- It will take about a month to reach Swift and several more months to raise the orbit from about 224 miles to 373 miles above Earth.
- Swift stopped its scientific work in February to conserve fuel and slow its descent.
- This is the first U.S. mission to attempt robotic satellite servicing, similar to a mission China carried out four years ago.
- The success of this mission could lead to future robotic repairs for other satellites, including the Hubble Space Telescope.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.