By Blessing Nweke
NASA is preparing a first-of-its-kind rescue mission to save its aging Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, which is steadily losing altitude and risks falling back to Earth because of increased atmospheric drag caused by heightened solar activity. The ambitious operation, known as Swift Boost, is expected to begin this week.
The agency has contracted Arizona-based Katalyst Space Technologies to carry out the $30 million mission using a robotic spacecraft called Link. The spacecraft, equipped with three robotic arms, will launch aboard a Pegasus XL rocket from the Marshall Islands before attempting to rendezvous with Swift in orbit. If successful, it will gently capture the telescope and raise it from its current low orbit to a safer altitude, allowing it to continue scientific operations for several more years.
Swift, launched in 2004, was originally designed for a two-year mission but has remained one of NASA’s most valuable observatories. It specializes in detecting gamma-ray bursts and other powerful cosmic explosions, quickly alerting astronomers around the world to transient events. Scientists say no current telescope can fully replace its unique capabilities.
NASA suspended Swift’s scientific observations earlier this year to reduce atmospheric drag and buy time for the rescue attempt. Mission officials say the telescope must be boosted before it descends below a critical altitude later this year, or it could be lost permanently.
If the operation succeeds, it will mark the first American robotic mission to extend the life of an orbiting scientific observatory, potentially opening a new era of satellite servicing. The technology could eventually be used to preserve other spacecraft, including the aging Hubble Space Telescope.
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