A private spacecraft that was supposed to save NASA's sinking Swift Observatory has managed to come within nine miles of the doomed spacecraft and even snap pictures
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…
NASA is working to keep the Swift Observatory from falling back to Earth. The agency has tapped startup Katalyst Space Technologies to raise the telescope into orbit. The company's CEO says the same robotic technology could one day help extend the life of the Hubble Space Telescope. More: https://www.newsnationnow.com/space/ap-nasa-races-to-save-swift-telescope-from-falling-back-to-earth-with-daring-rescue-mission/