NASA launches robot mission to rescue ageing Swift space telescope

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Washington: NASA is launching a first-of-its-kind robotic mission to save the ageing Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, a space observatory that is gradually losing altitude and threatens burning up in Earth's atmosphere. The observatory, which was launched in 2004 to monitor intense gamma-ray bursts and other cosmic events, has outlived its two-year target but is still a valuable scientific resource.

The rescue mission will see Arizona-based startup Katalyst Space Technologies launch its three-armed robotic spacecraft, LINK, from the Marshall Islands on a Pegasus rocket. The spacecraft will attempt to rendezvous with Swift, latch onto it, and increase its orbit by around 300 km over many weeks, extending the telescope's operating life.

Swift has been falling faster than expected because of higher solar activity, that has expanded Earth's upper atmosphere, increasing drag on satellites in low-Earth orbit. NASA thinks the mission will cost around $30 million and acknowledges it is a high-risk operation, with officials estimating the chances of success as "50-50."

If successful, the mission could bring in a new era of robotic satellite servicing, enabling spacecraft to be repaired, relocated, and improved in orbit. NASA hopes the technology could potentially be used to extend the lifespan of other important observatories, such as the Hubble Space Telescope.