Researchers have devised a strategy to prevent a significant satellite from plunging towards an early destruction.
The Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory by NASA, dedicated to studying gamma-ray bursts, is descending towards Earth faster than anticipated. Originally slated to function until 2030, the observatory is now on course to disintegrate in the planet’s atmosphere by the year’s end.
To address this, NASA has collaborated with commercial entity Katalyst Space to develop a robotic spacecraft capable of maneuvering Swift back into a higher orbit, potentially prolonging its operational lifespan by a decade or more.
Brad Cenko, the principal investigator for Swift, mentioned that typically NASA would meticulously plan a mission of this magnitude over several decades. However, given the urgent situation with Swift, this initiative was organized within approximately eighteen months.
“This endeavor represents a departure from NASA’s conventional operations,” remarked Cenko to host Nil Köksal from As It Happens. “Therefore, there is a tangible risk that it may not achieve the desired outcome.”
An aircraft, a rocket, and 3 robotic appendages
In early 2025, NASA became aware that Swift was accelerating towards Earth’s orbit faster than anticipated due to an unforeseen spike in solar activity.
This surge in solar activity has also resulted in an increase in the visibility of the Northern Lights.
“While it is a mesmerizing sight, for me, it signals that our satellite is descending more rapidly,” noted Cenko.
Initially positioned 600 kilometers above sea level upon its launch in 2004, Swift’s current altitude is approximately 360 kilometers.
Consequently, NASA engaged Katalyst, headquartered in Arkansas, to construct a solution capable of reaching Swift in time for rescue.
The outcome is LINK, a robotic spacecraft designed for interaction with Swift, presenting a special challenge due to Swift’s lack of in-space maintenance design features.
LINK is housed within a rocket named Pegasus XL, attached to the belly of a modified L-1011 airplane, referred to as Stargazer.
Later this month, Stargazer will depart from Kwajalein Atoll, part of the Republic of the Marshall Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. If all goes as planned, the aircraft will release the rocket, launching it into the atmosphere to intercept the satellite.
LINK will then utilize its three robotic arms, resembling lobster claws, to latch onto Swift and provide the necessary propulsion, as outlined by Cenko.
The entire operation is anticipated to span around two months.
The evolution of in-space maintenance
If the Swift boosting mission succeeds, it will signify a significant advancement in the realm of in-space servicing, assembly, and manufacturing, according to Mason Peck, a mechanical and aerospace engineering professor at Cornell University in New York.
“Currently, the focus is on elevating an orbit, but in the future, it could involve tasks such as refueling