NASA is preparing a bold rescue mission to save the aging Swift space telescope, which is losing altitude. The $30 million operation will start soon with the launch of a robotic rescue mission.
NASA has partnered with startup Katalyst Space Technologies to lift the Swift Observatory to a higher orbit. This new position will allow it to continue observing massive cosmic explosions. A three-armed spacecraft built by Katalyst will chase Swift after launching from an atoll in the Marshall Islands in the Pacific. The launch, aboard a Pegasus rocket from a plane, could occur on Tuesday.
Since its 2004 launch, Swift has experienced increasing descent due to recent strong solar activity. Rising quickly to a higher, stable orbit is critical for its survival. The Hubble Space Telescope faces a similar risk due to solar flares. Katalyst Space CEO, Ghonhee Lee, noted their next-generation robot could potentially prevent Hubble’s situation within a couple of years.
China previously performed a similar mission by successfully moving a satellite to a higher graveyard orbit four years ago. This will be the first American robotic mission of its kind, explained Lee. According to him, NASA’s established observatories can greatly benefit from this new service. The mission aims to cement this approach as an available strategy.
Katalyst’s autonomous spacecraft, Link, will take about a month to locate and capture Swift. It will then spend another couple of months raising the telescope’s orbit from the current 360 kilometers to the target 600 kilometers. The 1.6-ton gamma-ray observatory must surpass 300 kilometers for a successful rescue. With the latest estimates, it risks passing the point of no return in October.
Link, similar in size to a small kitchen refrigerator, features a solar span of 12 meters. Its three arms, each extending slightly over a meter, are equipped with grips resembling Lego figure hands. If all goes as planned, Swift may resume operations by September, Lee said.
Swift, valued in the hundreds of millions of dollars, was not designed to be repaired or recovered. This makes the mission exceptionally challenging, with no guarantee of success, according to company officials. NASA’s contract demands urgency but cautions against exacerbating the problem. Nine months later, Katalyst is ready to take action.
NASA slowed Swift’s descent by turning off all scientific instruments, halting observations since February. The chief of NASA’s scientific missions, Nicky Fox, stated the effort is justified. Losing Swift upon reentry would result in losing its capabilities. The organization currently lacks budget for a replacement.
Swift is vital for capturing last-minute astronomical events like gamma-ray bursts and exploding stars. With upcoming discoveries from the James Webb and Roman Space Telescopes, Swift’s rescue would enable it to serve as NASA’s first informant.
Katalyst views Swift as a starting point for a new space repair business. The company plans to launch an advanced robotic rescuer next year, targeting satellites at altitudes up to 35,800 kilometers. Lee envisions hundreds of robots orbiting in the future, repairing, refueling, and constructing platforms like solar farms and data centers.
Hubble, which has been serviced repeatedly by astronauts during the shuttle era, might benefit from Katalyst’s aid by 2028, potentially extending its life. Fox expressed the telescope’s value, calling it a national treasure and noting the public’s affection for Hubble.
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