The robot NASA hired to lift a orbital telescope is tumbling out of control
A NASA-contracted spacecraft designed to boost the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory into a higher orbit is currently tumbling out of control. Engineers are attempting to stabilize the craft after multiple reaction wheel failures and thruster issues occurred shortly after launch.
Why it matters
This mission represents a high-stakes test of NASA's strategy to outsource orbital maintenance to private companies, and its failure could result in the loss of a long-serving space observatory.
A Katalyst Space robot launched to grab onto a space telescope and raise it to a higher orbit is now tumbling out of control, NASA and the company said today.
The mission is the first time the space agency has hired a private company to lift one of its observatories to a higher orbit, allowing the observatory to continue operations beyond its expected lifespan.
The Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory was launched in 2004, with the ability to swiftly point at ephemeral space events like gamma ray bursts. The spacecraft has been pulled back toward Earth, and needs to be pushed back up to a higher orbit to continue doing its job.
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