NASA宣布放弃拯救斯威夫特伽马射线天文台的救援任务

NASA和Katalyst Space Technologies宣布放弃使用机器人卫星Link拯救即将坠落的斯威夫特伽马射线天文台12。该望远镜目前轨道高度仅为214英里（345公里），预计将在今年10月前坠入大气层烧毁2。

Link卫星于7月3日发射1，配备两个太阳能电池阵列和三个氙气电推进器1，原本计划通过三个机械臂捕获Swift并将其推升至373英里（600公里）的原始轨道来完成救援2。然而，Link在发射后数周内遭遇"持续的姿态控制问题"12，最终无法完成既定任务。NASA已为这次救援任务支付了3000万美元给Katalyst2。

NASA管理员Jared Isaacman对此表示："这不是我们期望的结果，但这不改变为何这次任务值得尝试"2。Katalyst表示将充分利用Link剩余的运行能力，可能进行近距离导航系统演示1。Swift自2004年发射以来已运行超过20年2。

NASA and Katalyst Space Technologies have announced the cancellation of their effort to rescue the aging Swift space telescope, which is expected to re-enter Earth's atmosphere and burn up by October 2024.2 The decision comes after the robotic servicing spacecraft Link, which launched on July 3, encountered persistent attitude control problems that prevented it from completing its intended rescue operation.12

Link was designed to capture Swift using three mechanical arms and boost the observatory to a higher orbit, raising its altitude from the current 214 miles (345 kilometers) back to its original operational altitude of 373 miles (600 kilometers).2 However, the spacecraft entered an uncontrolled spin within weeks of its deployment, rendering the rescue impossible.2 Despite NASA's investment of $30 million in the mission, the technical failures proved insurmountable.2 NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman stated that while "this is not the outcome we expected," the agency maintains that "this was still a mission worth attempting."2

Katalyst Space Technologies indicated it will seek to use Link's remaining capabilities, potentially demonstrating advanced proximity navigation systems before the mission concludes.1 The Swift observatory, which has operated for more than 20 years since its 2004 launch, will now reach the end of its mission as it falls back to Earth.2