Nasa turns to robotic spacecraft to save telescope from falling back to Earth

AP Associated PressSouth China Morning PostFiled 2026-06-29 · 05:27 GMTLean · Center-RightRead · 1 min

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1_min

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145_words

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Briefing Summary

AI-generated

NEWSAR · AI

NASA is undertaking a $30 million salvage operation to save the aging Swift Observatory from falling back to Earth. The mission, set to begin as early as this week, involves a robotic spacecraft built by startup Katalyst Space Technologies. This three-armed spacecraft will launch from the Marshall Islands aboard a plane-launched Pegasus rocket and will chase after Swift. The objective is to boost the Swift Observatory into a higher orbit, allowing it to continue its scientific mission of observing cosmic explosions. The launch could occur as early as Tuesday.

Confidence 0.85Claims 5Entities 6

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Article analysis

Model · rule-based

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Technology

Human Interest

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AI-assessed

CalmNeutralAlarmist

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0.90 / 1.00

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Sources cited

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Key claims

5 extracted

A three-armed spacecraft built by Katalyst will chase after Swift.

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Nasa hired start-up Katalyst Space Technologies to boost the Swift Observatory to a higher orbit.

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A US$30 million salvage operation is planned to get under way as soon as this week.

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Nasa is attempting to save an aging telescope from falling back to Earth.

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Lift-off could occur as early as Tuesday.

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Full report

1 min read · 145 words

Edition:Get unlimited access to the SCMP to tailor your experience and present relevant ads. By clicking “Accept”, you agree that cookies can be placed per our -AllNasa turns to robotic spacecraft to save telescope from falling back to EarthSIGN IN2-MIN READ2-MIN0 ListenPublished: 1:27pm, 29 Jun 2026Nasa is racing to save an ageing telescope from falling back to Earth with a daring rescue mission.The US$30 million salvage operation gets under way as soon as this week with the planned launch of a robotic lifesaver.Nasa hired start-up Katalyst Space Technologies to boost the Swift Observatory to a higher orbit where it can continue hunting for some of the universe’s biggest explosions. A three-armed spacecraft built by Katalyst will chase after Swift once it takes off from an atoll in the Pacific’s Marshall Islands aboard a plane-launched Pegasus rocket. Lift-off could occur as early as Tuesday.Select VoiceSelect Speed0.8x0.9x1.0x1.1x1.2x1.5x1.75x00:0000:001.00x

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