Swift Observatory Rescue Mission Fails

Eos reports that NASA’s attempt to rescue the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory has been called off after the commercial spacecraft’s thrusters failed, leaving the telescope on a trajectory that will see it burn up in Earth’s atmosphere by the end of twenty twenty‑six. The rescue effort, launched on the third of July by Katalyst Space Technologies, was intended to boost Swift’s low‑Earth orbit, which has been destabilized by unusually strong solar activity in twenty twenty‑four. Swift, launched in two thousand four, has spent more than twenty one years detecting gamma‑ray bursts and other high‑energy phenomena, becoming a cornerstone of multi‑wavelength astronomy. NASA administrator Jared Isaacman said the mission was still worthwhile for the experience it gave in satellite servicing, even though the outcome was not what anyone hoped for.

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