National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) initiates $30 million plan to rescue Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory

Key facts

• The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has signed a $30 million (₹283.8 crore) agreement with Katalyst Space Technologies to prevent the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory from crashing to Earth.
• The observatory was launched into Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) in 2004 using a Delta 7320 rocket as part of the Medium Explorer (MIDEX) programme.
• Increased solar activity has heated the upper atmosphere, causing the observatory to lose altitude and fall below its operational orbit of 400 kilometres.
• Katalyst Space Technologies is developing a three-armed robotic spacecraft to dock with the observatory and push it to a higher altitude of 550 kilometres.
• The rescue craft will be launched using a Northrop Grumman Pegasus rocket, which is deployed from a modified jet aircraft.
• The Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory is equipped with a Burst Alert Telescope to detect gamma-ray bursts, which are the most powerful explosions in the universe.
• The successful completion of the reboost mission is expected to extend the operational lifespan of the observatory by approximately one decade.