NASA launches robotic rescue mission to boost Swift Observatory and prevent reentry

‘A lot will have to go right’ if first-of-its-kind Swift observatory rescue mission is to succeed

The Swift Observatory was launched in 2004, but recent solar storms have pushed its orbit lower, and it's in danger of burning up in Earth's atmosphere as soon as this year. To try and stave off its demise, NASA has enlisted Katalyst Space Technologies. The company's Link spacecraft launched Friday with the goal of intercepting […]

Launched in 2004, Swift is sinking faster than ever because of recent solar storms.

The Swift telescope has been affected by recent solar storms and is sinking faster than ever, heading toward Earth. A NASA mission will try to capture it and boost its orbit.

Spacecraft launches to rescue NASA telescope before it crashes back to Earth  Sky NewsNasa launches robot to save Swift telescope falling to Earth  BBCDaring rescue mission launches to save a 3,200-pound NASA observatory from an untimely end  CNNNASA, Partners Update Launch Date for Mission to Boost Swift  NASA Science (.gov)Rescue mission to save Nasa telescope in danger of crashing back to Earth | ITV News  ITVX

Swift has been circling Earth for 21 years. Without a rescue mission assembled in just nine months, it would burn up by October.

NASA’s Swift space telescope is reaching the end of its two-decade run in orbit – unless a satellite launched on 3 July can give it a lifesaving boost

NASA launches rescue mission to save Swift telescope from Earth reentry

If all goes well, Swift could be back scanning the cosmos by September. Observations are currently on hold to preserve the telescope’s orbit as long as possible.

A commercial spacecraft is set to capture Nasa's Swift Observatory and raise its orbit, extending the telescope's life after solar storms accelerated its descent towards Earth

Nasa launches robot to save Swift telescope falling to Earth  BBCMission To Boost NASA’s Swift Launches From Marshall Islands  NASA Science (.gov)NASA just launched a bold mission to rescue a falling space telescope before it crashes to Earth  Live ScienceNASA is paying $30 million for a 1st-of-its-kind rescue mission to the aging Swift telescope before it falls from space. Is it worth it?  SpaceMission Launches to Rescue Swift Observatory  Sky & Telescope

The Swift observatory has been in orbit for 22 years but it's on track to fall from the skies.

Scanning the cosmos since its launch in 2004, Swift has been sinking faster and faster because of recent intense solar activity. It needs to get to a higher, more stable orbit as soon as possible to survive.

NASA is in a race against time as the Swift Observatory telescope in orbit sinks closer to Earth. CBS News consultant William Harwood explains the $30 million salvage operation.

There's an urgent mission to save NASA's Swift Observatory, which is falling back into the Earth's atmosphere and at risk of burning up. Mark Strassmann reports on the rescue operation.

NASA on Tuesday is set to launch a daring robotic rescue mission, a long-shot bid to prevent one of its aging telescopes from vanishing into dust.

NASA on Tuesday plans to launch a mission to save its Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory. A spacecraft is expected to push the telescope into a stable orbit so it doesn’t fall into the atmosphere.

Northrop Grumman will launch a rocket from an airplane to save NASA's SWIFT space telescope from falling out of orbit.

A rescue mission will soon be underway for NASA’s Swift telescope.

Inside the quest to rescue NASA’s aging Swift observatory

Nasa’s Hail Mary mission to save telescope from fiery demise  The TimesLaunch of Mission to Boost NASA’s Swift Scrubs Due to Weather  NASA Science (.gov)NASA Aims to Catch a Falling Space Telescope and Push It Back Up  The New York TimesNASA to launch rescue mission June 30 to save Swift space telescope from burning up in Earth's atmosphere  SpaceNASA robot mission aiming to rescue space telescope  RTE.ie

Nasa is racing to save an ageing telescope from falling back to Earth with a daring rescue mission. The US$30 million salvage operation gets under way as soon as this week with the planned launch of a robotic lifesaver. Nasa hired start-up Katalyst Space Technologies to boost the Swift Observatory to a higher orbit where it can continue hunting for some of the universe’s biggest explosions. A three-armed spacecraft built by Katalyst will chase after Swift once it takes off from an atoll in the...

The $30 million salvage operation gets underway as soon as this week with the planned launch of a robotic lifesaver.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — NASA is racing to save an aging telescope from falling back to Earth with a daring rescue mission.

The daring salvage operation gets underway as soon as this week with the planned launch of a robotic lifesaver.

NASA is racing to save an aging telescope from falling back to Earth with a daring rescue mission.

And the Hubble Space Telescope could be next

NASA’s rescue mission gets underway as soon as this week with the planned launch of a robotic lifesaver. The plan is to boost Swift to a higher orbit where it can continue hunting for some of the universe's biggest explosions.

NASA is racing to save its Swift telescope from falling back to Earth with a daring rescue mission in space.

The USD 30 million salvage operation gets underway as soon as this week with the planned launch of a robotic lifesaver

NASA is racing to save its Swift telescope from falling back to Earth with a daring rescue mission