Rescue mission is called off for NASA's aging Swift space telescope
- NASA and Katalyst Space Technologies said the attempt to boost the Swift Observatory into a higher orbit has been called off.
- Katalyst said its Link spacecraft could not proceed because of problems controlling the vehicle in orbit.
- NASA said Swift, which has studied gamma ray bursts and exploding stars for more than 20 years, is now expected to reenter Earth's atmosphere later this year, likely no earlier than October.
- NASA paid Katalyst $30 million for the attempted rescue after solar activity caused Swift to lose altitude faster than expected.
- Katalyst said it will keep operating Link near the telescope to demonstrate capabilities for future rescue missions.
NASA and Katalyst Space Technologies have abandoned an effort to save the Swift Observatory, ending a plan to raise the aging telescope into a safer orbit. The telescope is now expected to reenter Earth’s atmosphere later this year after more than two decades in space.
Katalyst said its Link spacecraft will not attempt the capture because of control problems that emerged after launch. NASA said the observatory, which has tracked gamma ray bursts and exploding stars since 2004, has been losing altitude faster than expected because of intense solar activity.
NASA had paid Katalyst $30 million for the mission. Swift’s science instruments were turned off earlier this year to slow its descent, but the telescope was still orbiting lower than the company had hoped to raise it.
Katalyst said it will continue operating Link near Swift to demonstrate the vehicle’s capabilities for future rescue efforts. NASA said the telescope’s end is not expected before October. The outcome leaves unclear whether a similar rescue attempt could later be made for Hubble, which is also gradually losing altitude.
NASA老化的Swift空间望远镜救援任务取消
NASA与Katalyst Space Technologies已经放弃拯救Swift天文台的尝试，这意味着这台老化的望远镜不会被抬升到更安全的轨道。它在太空运行20多年后，预计将于今年晚些时候重返地球大气层。
Katalyst表示，由于发射后出现的在轨控制问题，其Link飞船不会继续执行捕获任务。NASA称，自2004年以来持续观测伽马射线暴和超新星爆发等现象的Swift，因强烈太阳活动影响，下降速度快于预期。
NASA此前为这项任务向Katalyst支付了3000万美元。为减缓下坠，Swift的科学仪器已在今年早些时候关闭，但望远镜仍处于低于原计划提升目标的轨道高度。
Katalyst说，将继续让Link在Swift附近运行，以展示未来救援任务所需的能力。NASA表示，Swift预计不会在10月前再入大气层。这一结果也使未来是否还能对同样逐渐失去轨道高度的哈勃望远镜实施类似救援，暂时没有明确答案。