NASA is launching a $30 million mission to adjust the orbit of the Swift Observatory, which has been experiencing a decline in altitude due to increased solar activity. The mission is set to begin this week and aims to elevate the observatory to a more stable orbit before it falls back to Earth.
The Swift Observatory, operational since 2004, is designed to study energetic cosmic explosions. NASA has contracted Katalyst Space Technologies to execute the mission, utilizing an autonomous spacecraft named Link. This spacecraft will be deployed from a plane, allowing for flexible launch options over the Pacific Ocean.
Katalyst CEO Ghonhee Lee stated that this mission represents a pioneering effort in American space robotics. Link is expected to take approximately one month to reach Swift and an additional two months to complete the orbital adjustment. Swift currently operates at an altitude of 224 miles and must be maintained above 185 miles to avoid reentry, which is projected to occur in October.
While Katalyst officials acknowledge the uncertainty of the mission's success due to Swift's original design not including repair capabilities, NASA considers the potential benefits significant. NASA’s science mission chief, Nicky Fox, emphasized the importance of the observatory, stating that losing it would result in a substantial loss of scientific capability.
Swift plays a crucial role in studying gamma ray bursts and works in conjunction with the James Webb Space Telescope by directing it to relevant cosmic events for further analysis.
Katalyst is also exploring the possibility of a future mission to lift the Hubble Space Telescope, which is similarly facing altitude issues, within the next two years.