AXIOS (Alex Fitzpatrick) - NASA aborts attempt to save dying space telescope
A rendering of the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory. Image: NASA NASA is calling off an attempt to save a space observatory falling out of orbit, dooming it to a fiery death in Earth's atmosphere. Why it matters: The Swift Boost Mission was an ambitious effort to rescue the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory and demonstrate the concept of grabbing onto and moving a satellite. Driving the news: NASA canceled the attempt after weeks of attitude control issues plagued LINK, a privately built spacecraft designed to rendezvous with Swift, grab on and push it to a higher, more stable orbit. - Swift had fallen into an unstable orbit earlier than expected and has no propulsion system of its own to raise its orbit. Yes, but: LINK will still try to…
A rendering of the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory. Image: NASA NASA is calling off an attempt to save a space observatory falling out of orbit, dooming it to a fiery death in Earth's atmosphere. Why it matters: The Swift Boost Mission was an ambitious effort to rescue the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory and demonstrate the concept of grabbing onto and moving a satellite. Driving the news: NASA canceled the attempt after weeks of attitude control issues plagued LINK, a privately built spacecraft designed to rendezvous with Swift, grab on and push it to a higher, more stable orbit. - Swift had fallen into an unstable orbit earlier than expected and has no propulsion system of its own to raise its orbit. Yes, but: LINK will still try to…Open