NASA's Swift telescope will plunge toward Earth after rescue mission called off
Summary
NASA's attempt to save its Swift telescope by sending a spacecraft to boost it to a higher orbit has failed. The rescue spacecraft lost control, so the telescope will fall back to Earth and burn up later this year after more than 20 years in space.Key Facts
- NASA paid $30 million to Katalyst Space Technologies to try to raise Swift to a safer orbit.
- The Link rescue spacecraft spun uncontrollably after launch and could not capture Swift.
- Swift has been losing altitude due to solar activity heating Earth's atmosphere, causing more drag.
- The telescope was launched in 2004 and was designed for a two-year mission but lasted over 20 years.
- Swift’s instruments were turned off earlier to slow its descent.
- It is currently orbiting at about 216 miles and will drop to 186 miles in October.
- Swift tracks high-energy events in space like gamma-ray bursts, which are some of the biggest explosions known.
- NASA had planned to try a similar rescue for the Hubble Space Telescope, but Swift’s failure may affect those plans.
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