NASA's 21-year-old Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, a key satellite for detecting gamma-ray bursts, is falling out of orbit. NASA has awarded Katalyst Space Technologies a $30 million contract to develop a pioneering commercial robotic rescue mission to stabilize its orbit and extend its scientific life. This represents a novel approach to satellite servicing, balancing cost against the value of continuing unique astronomical observations.
Background
The Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory is a NASA satellite launched in 2004 to detect gamma-ray bursts, the most powerful explosions in the universe. It operates in low-Earth orbit where atmospheric drag is gradually causing orbital decay.
- Source
- Ars Technica
- Published
- Mar 23, 2026 at 07:00 PM
- Score
- 7.0 / 10