Lead

NASA has launched a robotic mission to rescue one of its aging space telescopes from burning up in Earth's atmosphere. The Swift Observatory, which has been tracking powerful cosmic explosions since 2004, is sinking faster than ever due to recent solar storms, prompting an unprecedented salvage operation.

A three-armed spacecraft called Link, built by Katalyst Space Technologies, rocketed into orbit on Friday from the Marshall Islands in the Pacific. The spacecraft, launched by Northrop Grumman's Pegasus rocket from the belly of a modified airplane, is set to reach and capture Swift in about a month. The operation is expected to last several months, as reported by ABC Australia and the BBC.

Coverage Comparison

Reports from ABC Australia, the BBC, and Deutsche Welle all describe the mission as a high-risk, high-reward effort, noting that such a rescue has never been attempted before. ABC Australia emphasizes the unprecedented nature of the mission, while the BBC highlights that Swift is "scientifically special" and beloved by researchers. Deutsche Welle quotes NASA officials who call the telescope "unique" and the mission "a great opportunity for NASA to try something novel."

The outlets agree on the cause of Swift's descent: increased solar activity has heated and expanded Earth's atmosphere, increasing drag on the telescope and lowering its orbit. Swift was launched into an orbit at 373 miles (600 km) and has now dropped to about 360 km (224 miles), with most of the descent occurring in the past two years.

Key Claims

  • Solar storms cause orbit decay: Multiple sources report that Swift is falling towards Earth because of recent solar storms, which have accelerated its descent. The telescope would have re-entered Earth's atmosphere in an uncontrolled manner by the end of the year if no action were taken.
  • High-risk, high-reward mission: Katalyst Space CEO Ghonhee Lee said ahead of liftoff, "This is a high-risk, high-reward mission." Lee also stated, "The biggest danger was always we don't launch anything and we let Swift burn up in the atmosphere. So we were always trying to avoid that risk, and our team has done that." Dr. Simeon Barber, a space scientist at the Open University, also described the mission as "high risk" but noted that NASA "obviously thinks it's worth a go."
  • Cost and potential savings: NASA is paying $30 million (€26 million, or about $43.5 million Australian) to Katalyst to capture the telescope and boost its orbit. Brad Cenko, Swift's Principal Investigator at NASA, said in an email to Deutsche Welle that building a new and improved Swift would cost much more than the boost, making this rescue "quite a bargain." Swift cost about $250 million to build and launch.
  • Timeline and objectives: If all goes well, Swift could be back scanning the cosmos by September, according to multiple reports. Observations are currently on hold to preserve the telescope's orbit. Link will raise Swift's altitude by about 240 km (150 miles) using its thrusters, firing slowly to avoid heavy jostling.
  • Future implications: ABC Australia reports that the mission could pave the way for giving other satellites a second life, and that NASA's Hubble Space Telescope could be a candidate for a similar salvage operation in a few years, as it is also slipping in altitude due to increased atmospheric drag.

Perspectives

NASA: NASA officials view the mission as a scientifically and financially sound opportunity to save a unique telescope. Brad Cenko called Swift a "unique telescope that has reinvented itself over the years" and said the mission offers "real positive scientific benefit." NASA's astrophysics division director, Shawn Domagal-Goldman, noted, "This is a lot of firsts stacked on top of each other," underlining the pioneering nature of the attempt.

Katalyst Space Technologies: The company behind the Link spacecraft, led by CEO Ghonhee Lee, has organized the mission in just nine months, overcoming weather and technical delays. Lee emphasized the team's success in avoiding the risk of Swift burning up, saying, "Our team has done that."

European Space Agency (ESA): Deutsche Welle reports that the European Space Agency is working on similar in-space operations and servicing technology, though no ESA official is quoted directly in the available material.