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NASA races to launch robotic rescue mission to save Swift telescope

NASA races to save the Swift telescope with a $30M robotic rescue missionNASA prepares to launch rescue to save telescope from falling to Earth

NASA is launching a $30 million robotic rescue mission to save the Swift telescope from falling to Earth, with the autonomous spacecraft Lift set to rendezvous with Swift in about a month.

The mission, expected to take several months to complete, aims to raise the telescope's orbit from its current 224 miles to a safer altitude, ensuring it remains operational for future discoveries alongside the Webb and Roman telescopes.

This effort matters as it pioneers a new on-orbit repair business and secures Swift's role as NASA's first responder for critical astronomical observations.

NASA races to launch robotic rescue mission to save Swift telescope | Implica