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Mission to Save Falling NASA Space Telescope Suffers Setback
The New York Times • • general
Key Points:
- The rescue spacecraft Link, designed to save NASA’s Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, began tumbling unexpectedly while approaching the telescope, threatening the mission.
- Engineers are actively working to reduce Link’s spin, which completes a rotation every 40 seconds, but the spacecraft is still expected to push Swift into a higher orbit.
- The Swift Observatory, launched in 2004 to observe gamma-ray bursts, was not designed for orbital boosts and is at risk due to increased atmospheric drag from a stronger-than-expected solar cycle.
- Katalyst Space Technologies rapidly developed Link in nine months after NASA sought quick, cost-effective solutions to extend Swift’s operational life amid heightened solar activity.
