NASA calls off rescue mission for aging Swift space telescope
- NASA and Katalyst Space Technologies said the attempt to save the Swift Observatory was called off after problems emerged with the rescue spacecraft's control.
- The telescope is expected to reenter Earth's atmosphere and burn up later this year, with its end not expected before October.
- NASA had paid Katalyst $30 million to try to boost Swift into a higher, longer-lasting orbit after solar activity made it lose altitude faster than expected.
- Swift, launched in 2004, had its science instruments turned off earlier this year to slow its descent, and it was orbiting about 214 miles above Earth on Wednesday.
NASA has abandoned the effort to raise the Swift Observatory into a safer orbit after the Katalyst spacecraft sent to help it developed control problems. The telescope is now expected to plunge back through the atmosphere and burn up later this year.
The rescue attempt began after intense solar activity caused Swift to lose altitude faster than expected. NASA had paid Katalyst Space Technologies $30 million for the mission, which was designed to lift the observatory back to about 373 miles above Earth and extend its science life.
Katalyst said its Link spacecraft went into an uncontrollable spin a few weeks after launch in early July. Although controllers reduced the tumble, the company said ongoing pointing and positioning problems made a capture attempt impossible.
Swift, launched in 2004, has spent more than 20 years observing events such as gamma-ray bursts and exploding stars. Its instruments were turned off earlier this year to slow its descent, but the mission is now expected to end no earlier than October.
NASA叫停对老化Swift空间望远镜的救援任务
在用于协助提升Swift观测台轨道的Katalyst飞船出现控制问题后，NASA已放弃这次将其抬升到更安全轨道的行动。该望远镜预计将在今年晚些时候重新进入大气层并烧毁。
这次救援尝试的背景，是强烈太阳活动让Swift比预期更快失去高度。NASA为此向Katalyst Space Technologies支付了3000万美元，希望把观测台送回约373英里的轨道高度，延长其科学观测寿命。
Katalyst表示，旗下Link飞船在7月初发射后几周内进入失控旋转状态。尽管飞控人员设法减缓了翻滚，后续的指向和定位问题仍使其无法执行捕获任务。
Swift于2004年发射，20多年来一直用于观测伽马射线暴和爆炸恒星等宇宙中的强烈事件。今年早些时候，其科学仪器已关闭以减缓下坠，但目前预计它最早也要到10月之后才会结束任务。