News Astronomy

A space telescope was falling from orbit. Its rescue mission fell apart too

The failed rescue highlights the promise — and peril — of fixing satellites in orbit

Illustration of Swift telescope

The Swift Observatory (illustrated) is slowly falling toward Earth’s atmosphere. A rescue mission was sent to save the space telescope, but it tumbled out of control. There is no backup mission to save Swift.

Chris Smith (KBRwyle)/NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

By Marina Koren

A space telescope is falling out of orbit, and a rescue mission showed up just in time—but both are doomed.