Washington (Web Desk) — NASA has ended its effort to save the deteriorating Swift Observatory, meaning the telescope is likely to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere uncontrollably by the end of this year.
NASA had planned to use another spacecraft, at an estimated cost of around $30 million, to move the Swift Observatory into a higher orbit and prevent its uncontrolled return toward Earth.
The spacecraft sent for the rescue mission, named Link, began spinning uncontrollably a few weeks after being launched in early July. Although flight controllers managed to reduce its rotation to some extent, problems with maintaining its orientation and position in orbit could not be resolved.
NASA eventually canceled the mission to save the Swift Observatory. The exact date and location of the telescope’s re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere remain unknown.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said this was not the outcome the agency had been working toward, but it does not change why the mission was necessary.