The NASA is fine-tuning the details for a crucial mission aimed at preventing the Swift space telescope from re-entering the Earth’s atmosphere uncontrollably. This telescope, vital for exploring the universe, has experienced an alarming loss of altitude due to the extreme conditions of the recent solar climate.
Robotic mission to save Swift
To address this emergency, NASA has contracted Katalyst Space Technologies, a startup tasked with stabilizing the observatory and ensuring its return to a safe orbit. The operation, which involves an investment of nearly 30 million dollars, will include the deployment of a specially designed robot.
The device, called Link, is the size of a refrigerator and has three mechanical arms one meter in length. These arms end in clamps that will attach to the structure of Swift, allowing it to be maneuvered precisely in space.
Originally launched in November 2004 at an initial cost of 250 million dollars, Swift is known for its ability to capture brief cosmic events like supernova explosions. However, the increase in solar activity in 2024 caused an expansion of the Earth’s atmosphere, increasing friction and reducing the observatory’s altitude.
If immediate intervention is not executed, reports indicate that the telescope could burn up in the atmosphere by the end of 2026. According to Nicky Fox, head of NASA’s science missions, losing Swift would mean the disappearance of a technical capability that they do not have the resources to replace.
Complex operation and the future of Hubble
Katalyst Space Technologies’ plan is for the Link robot to dock with Swift and gradually raise its altitude from 360 to 600 kilometers away from Earth. This project was a challenge for the company, which had less than a year to develop and manufacture the device before Swift reached the point of no return.
The launch will take place from an atoll in the Marshall Islands in the Pacific Ocean, using a Northrop Grumman Pegasus rocket. The rocket will be released at 40,000 feet, igniting its three-stage engines to position the robot in space in ten minutes.
It is estimated that the robot will take approximately a month to find Swift, followed by several months of gradual thrust. If this maneuver is successful, the telescope could remain operational until September, extending its useful life by at least another year.
This high-risk and reward mission is considered by NASA as a more economical option than building a new device from scratch. Additionally, it will offer valuable lessons for a possible rescue of the Hubble space telescope in 2028.
Shawn Domagal-Goldman, director of astrophysics at NASA, acknowledged the initial skepticism in the scientific community. Meanwhile, Ghonhee Lee, CEO of Katalyst, highlighted that Swift was not designed to receive assistance, making this achievement an important precedent for satellite maintenance in orbit.
