NASA is preparing an ambitious mission to salvage the Swift observatory, a space telescope launched 22 years ago that is currently at risk of falling back to Earth. The observatory, which orbits at an altitude of approximately 370 miles, has been gradually descending due to atmospheric drag and is projected to reenter and burn up in the atmosphere as early as the end of this year.
This orbital decay has been exacerbated by the solar maximum, the sun's most energetic phase in its 11-year cycle, which peaked in late 2024. The increased solar activity heats and expands Earth's atmosphere, intensifying drag on satellites.
To counteract this, NASA has developed a rescue plan utilizing a specialized mission. A Stargazer L-1011 jet, carrying a three-stage Pegasus rocket equipped with a refrigerator-sized satellite named Link, is positioned on Kwajalein Atoll in the western Pacific. The launch is scheduled for as early as July 3.
Upon reaching an altitude of 40,000 feet, the Pegasus rocket will be released. It will then ignite its engines, propelling the Link satellite into an orbit that matches Swift's current trajectory. The Link satellite is designed to rendezvous with Swift, capture it using three grappling arms, and then use its own thrusters to guide the older observatory into a higher, more stable orbit. The success of this operation hinges on the precise execution of numerous complex steps.