NASA races to save Swift telescope from falling back to Earth

Key Points:

• NASA is launching a $30 million robotic mission to save the aging Swift Observatory telescope by boosting it to a higher orbit to prevent it from falling back to Earth due to increased solar activity.
• The mission, led by startup Katalyst Space Technologies, will use an autonomous spacecraft named Link, equipped with three robotic arms, to rendezvous with and raise Swift's orbit from 224 miles to 373 miles over several months.
• Swift, launched in 2004 and critical for detecting cosmic explosions, stopped scientific operations in February to conserve altitude, and without this rescue, NASA risks losing a valuable and irreplaceable observatory.
• The success of this mission could pave the way for future robotic servicing missions, including a potential boost for the Hubble Space Telescope in 2028, extending the operational life of major NASA observatories.
• Katalyst envisions a future with many robotic spacecraft performing satellite repairs, refueling, and construction in orbit, marking a new era in space infrastructure maintenance and development.