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NASA abandons Swift telescope rescue after spacecraft spins out of control

· Technology USA
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NASA has scrapped a $30 million mission to save the Swift space telescope from a fiery reentry, ending an effort that could have pioneered a model for rescuing other aging orbital observatories.

The agency and Katalyst Space Technologies announced the cancellation Wednesday after the Link rescue spacecraft entered an uncontrollable spin weeks after its early July launch from the Marshall Islands. Engineers spent weeks attempting to regain control but concluded the vehicle could neither capture Swift nor boost it to a safer orbit. Katalyst CEO Ghonhee Lee said the ambitious mission was assembled in under a year on an aggressive timeline.

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said the failure "does not change why this mission was worth attempting." Swift, launched in 2004, is now falling roughly 5 miles per month and is expected to burn up in the atmosphere by late 2026. A successful rescue had been seen as a precursor to a future mission targeting the Hubble Space Telescope.

Story development

  1. NASA's Link spacecraft to attempt flyby of Swift telescope after rescue mission scrapped
  2. NASA abandons Swift telescope rescue after spacecraft spins out of control

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agerpres.ro ROU NASA a renunțat la misiunea de salvare a telescopului orbital SWIFT, aflat în curs de prăbușire de pe orbităcbsnews.com USA NASA's Swift telescope will plunge toward Earth after rescue mission called offilpost.it ITA L’osservatorio spaziale Swift si disintegrerà nell’atmosfera, dopo che la missione per salvarlo è stata annullata
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spiegel.de DEU Nasa scheitert mit beispielloser Rettungsaktion des Forschungssatelliten »Swift«demorgen.be BEL NASA blaast reddingsmissie voor ruimtetelescoop Swift af: verbrandt wellicht later dit jaar in de dampkringupi.com NASA calls off mission to save Swift Observatory telescope in space - UPI.comcorriere.it ITA La missione per salvare il telescopio della Nasa è fallita: Swift precipiterà sulla Terracna.com.tw TWN NASA衛星救援任務失敗 「雨燕天文台」恐墜大氣層 | 科技 | 中央社 CNA24heures.ch CHE Mission à 30 millions ratée: La NASA a échoué à sauver son télescope Swift de la désintégrationwyborcza.pl POL NASA: nie powiodła się misja podniesienia obserwatorium Swift na wyższą orbitęnbcnews.com USA NASA mission to save its sinking space telescope fails