NASA rescue craft spirals out of control, risking Swift Observatory
TL;DR
NASA's LINK servicing spacecraft, sent to boost the Swift Observatory, is spinning out of control after two of its three reaction wheels failed and its cold-gas thrusters misbehaved, disrupting communications. Engineers are working to stabilize and rendezvous with Swift, but if the mission fails, the observatory's orbit could decay, wiping out months of scientific data.
Topics:sciencetechnology#nasa#reaction-wheels#satellite-servicing#spacecraft#swift-observatory#technology
- Spacecraft sent on rescue mission now spinning out of control Boing Boing
- Efforts Continue to Stabilize LINK Spacecraft for NASA’s Swift Boost NASA Science (.gov)
- Mission to rescue space telescope may be in jeopardy ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos
- Private mission to rescue NASA’s aging telescope runs into its own trouble AP News
- Attitude control issues leave Swift rescue mission spinning in orbit Ars Technica
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