NASA aborts attempt to save dying space telescope
Summary
NASA stopped trying to save the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, a space telescope losing its orbit. The mission to move the satellite to a safer orbit failed, but NASA will still gather information to improve future satellite rescue missions.Key Facts
- The Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory is a space telescope falling into an unstable orbit around Earth.
- NASA tried to save it using a privately built spacecraft called LINK to grab and move it to a higher orbit.
- LINK experienced control problems, leading NASA to cancel the rescue attempt.
- Swift cannot raise its orbit by itself because it has no propulsion system.
- Despite the failure, LINK will still approach Swift to learn about satellite relocation.
- NASA sees value in the mission for future satellite servicing efforts.
- Swift is expected to burn up in Earth's atmosphere later this year.
- NASA will keep using other missions to monitor cosmic events while Swift is lost.
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