An Unmanned Spacecraft that was sent to Rescue a Falling NASA Space Telescope now needs an Intervention of its own.
NASA’s Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory was Launched in 2004, to Observe Ggamma-Ray Bursts, Bright Flashes of High-Energy Light from Violent Explosions throughout the Universe.
The Observatory, which has already Outlived its planned Lifetime, is at Risk after the 2024 Peak of the Sun’s 11-year Sunspot Cycle was Stronger than Expected, Warming the Earth’s Upper Atmosphere and Increasing the Drag on Satellites like Swift, which is Ddropping about 1.5 Miles a Week toward Earth.
Katalyst was Commissioned for a “high-risk, high-reward” effort to Rush through a Small Rescue Craft, called Link, to push Swift into a Higher Orbit.
But Link began to unexpectedly start Tumbling just a few miles from Swift, making a Full Rotation every 40 seconds and Putting the Rescue Mission in Danger.
Ghonhee Lee, Katalyst’s Chief Executive, said the Spinning was a “very serious situation” that Engineers were working to Resolve.
Link’s Rendezvous with Swift, has been Delayed by at least a couple of Weeks, but NASA said the Aagency was Hopeful they would find a Solution.
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