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Robot Launch: NASA's Daring Mission to Save Aging Telescope
4 Jul
Summary
- A robotic spacecraft was launched to rescue NASA's Swift Observatory.
- The mission aims to prevent the aging telescope from burning up.
- This unprecedented $30 million effort could enable other satellites to be reused.
NASA has initiated a complex, months-long robotic mission to prevent its aging Swift Observatory from burning up in Earth's atmosphere. The mission, dubbed Link, involves a spacecraft built by Katalyst Space Technologies, which launched on a Pegasus rocket from the Marshall Islands on Friday, July 4, 2026.
This unprecedented $30 million effort aims to intercept and dock with the Swift telescope, which was launched in 2004. Recent solar storms have caused Swift to descend faster than anticipated.
The robotic Link spacecraft will approach Swift, perform checks, and use its robotic arms to dock. Subsequently, it will attempt to boost Swift's orbit by approximately 300 kilometers. This maneuver is crucial for saving the telescope, which studies gamma-ray bursts, and could pioneer methods for extending the lifespan of other satellites.
