Why NASA Is Rescuing a 20-Year-Old Space Telescope
News Desk/Agencies
Washington: NASA is preparing for an unprecedented robotic mission that could change how ageing satellites are managed in space by attempting to rescue one of its oldest and most valuable observatories instead of letting it burn up in Earth’s atmosphere.
The mission aims to save the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, a space telescope launched in 2004 to study powerful gamma-ray bursts. Although originally designed for a two-year mission, Swift has remained operational for more than two decades and continues to provide critical scientific observations.
The rescue operation will be carried out by Katalyst, a US space startup, using a robotic spacecraft called LINK. The spacecraft was scheduled to launch aboard a Pegasus rocket released from an aircraft over the Pacific Ocean. However, NASA postponed Tuesday’s launch because of unfavourable weather, with the next attempt planned no earlier than Wednesday, July 1.
If launched successfully, LINK will spend several months approaching Swift in low Earth orbit before attempting a complex rendezvous. The robot will locate the telescope, manoeuvre around it and attach itself using three robotic arms before gradually lifting the observatory about 300 kilometres into a higher, more stable orbit.
NASA officials describe the mission as a series of technological firsts. The spacecraft must dock with a satellite that was never designed for servicing, while engineers have only limited knowledge of the telescope’s rear structure where the robotic arms must attach.
NASA astrophysicist Regina Caputo acknowledged the mission’s difficulty, saying its chances of success may be “about 50-50,” but stressed that the scientific value of Swift makes the attempt worthwhile.
Swift was placed roughly 600 kilometres above Earth to maintain constant communication with scientists studying gamma-ray bursts—brief but immensely powerful explosions associated with the deaths of massive stars. Over time, increased solar activity has expanded Earth’s upper atmosphere, creating drag that is gradually pulling the telescope into a lower orbit.
Rather than allowing the observatory to re-enter the atmosphere and burn up, NASA decided to test whether robotic servicing could extend its operational life.
The agency estimates the rescue mission will cost about $30 million, significantly less than the telescope’s original development cost of $250 million and far cheaper than building a replacement.
Beyond preserving Swift’s scientific capabilities, NASA believes the demonstration could open a new chapter in satellite operations.
If successful, similar robotic missions could eventually refuel, reposition, repair and even upgrade satellites that were never designed to be serviced in orbit, potentially reducing costs and extending the lifespan of valuable space assets.
