NASA satellite rescue mission fails, says US space agency

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A mission to save a NASA satellite from burning up in the atmosphere has failed, the US space agency said Wednesday, as the rescue spacecraft could not be controlled.

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The Swift space telescope, which studies the most powerful explosions in the universe, will now likely plunge back to earth and disintegrate along the way later this year.

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The unprecedented $30 million dollar mission attempted to send a robot to grab the telescope and move it farther into orbit.

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“This is not the outcome we were working toward, but it does not change why this mission was worth attempting,” NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said.

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Planners had hoped the mission would pave the way for giving other satellites a second life.

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“The team moved with extraordinary speed to give Swift a chance to carry out more science while advancing capabilities America will need for satellite servicing in the future,” Isaacman added.

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Developed by American startup Katalyst, the unmanned spacecraft was launched on July 3 by a small rocket named Pegasus, which was itself launched from an airplane.

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However, on July 28 the company said the spacecraft had been in an out-of-control spin for 72 hours with multiple problems including a loss of communications.

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In announcing the mission failure on Wednesday, Katalyst cited “ongoing attitude control issues” as the reason it and NASA were calling it off.

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NASA said that the spacecraft would still attempt to reach the Swift telescope with the hope of giving scientists and engineers lessons for similar future missions.

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The agency launched Swift in 2004 to study gamma-ray bursts.

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AFP

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