NASA launches robotic mission to save telescope falling back to Earth
Summary
NASA has launched a robotic mission to save the Swift space telescope, which is falling back toward Earth. A robot spacecraft named Link will reach Swift, attach to it, and try to move it back to a higher orbit to extend its life.Key Facts
- NASA sent the Link spacecraft from the Marshall Islands in the Pacific Ocean.
- Link was launched on a Pegasus rocket carried by a modified airplane.
- The mission aims to capture and boost the Swift telescope, launched in 2004.
- Swift is falling faster due to recent solar storms and needs help to avoid burning up.
- The robot will use three robotic arms to dock with Swift in space.
- The process of finding, docking, and rescuing Swift could take several weeks to a month.
- This $30 million mission is the first attempt to extend the life of a satellite by robotic rescue.
- Swift studies gamma-ray bursts, which are powerful cosmic explosions.
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