Rescue mission is called off for NASA's aging Swift space telescope
- NASA and Katalyst Space Technologies called off the rescue mission for the Swift Observatory after problems with controlling the Link spacecraft.
- The telescope is now expected to reenter Earth's atmosphere later this year, likely no earlier than October.
- NASA had paid Katalyst $30 million to try to raise Swift into a higher, longer-lasting orbit.
- Swift, launched in 2004, had its science instruments turned off earlier this year to slow its descent as solar activity pulled it lower.
- Katalyst said it will keep operating Link near the telescope to demonstrate capabilities for future rescue missions.
- NASA said Swift has spent more than 20 years observing gamma ray bursts and exploding stars, and that Hubble may be the next candidate for an orbital boost.
NASA has ended the attempt to save its aging Swift Observatory after the rescue spacecraft Link ran into control problems. The telescope is now expected to reenter the atmosphere later this year, ending more than two decades in orbit.
NASA and Katalyst Space Technologies said Link will not try to capture Swift or lift it to a higher orbit. The startup said the spacecraft developed pointing and positioning problems after launch.
NASA said it paid Katalyst $30 million for the effort. Swift had been losing altitude faster than expected because of intense solar activity, and its science instruments were shut down earlier this year to slow the descent.
Katalyst said it will continue operating Link near Swift to demonstrate technology for future rescue work. NASA said Swift had made major observations of gamma ray bursts and exploding stars, and noted that Hubble could be next in line for a similar boost if conditions allow.
NASA老化的Swift空间望远镜救援任务被叫停
NASA已经结束了拯救老化Swift观测台的尝试，因为救援航天器Link出现了控制问题。该望远镜预计将在今年晚些时候重新进入大气层，结束其在轨20多年的运行。
NASA和Katalyst Space Technologies表示，Link将不会尝试捕获Swift，也不会把它抬升到更高轨道。Katalyst称，这艘航天器在发射后出现了指向和定位方面的问题。
NASA表示，自己为这项任务向Katalyst支付了3000万美元。由于强烈的太阳活动，Swift的高度下降速度快于预期，因此其科学仪器今年早些时候已被关闭，以减缓下坠。
Katalyst表示，将继续在Swift附近操作Link，用于展示未来救援任务所需的技术。NASA称，Swift曾对伽马射线暴和恒星爆炸等现象做出重要观测，并提到如果条件允许，哈勃望远镜可能成为下一次类似轨道提升任务的对象。