NASA launched an emergency mission to stop the Swift Observatory from crashing to Earth

NASA contracted Katalyst Space Technologies to deploy a spacecraft designed to push the Swift Observatory to a higher orbit. The Swift Observatory, launched in 2004, has experienced orbital decay due to increased solar activity. Katalyst's Link spacecraft launched Friday to rendezvous with and raise the observatory's orbit. Without intervention, the Swift Observatory could re-enter Earth's atmosphere within the year. The mission represents the first attempt by a commercial company to perform orbital servicing on a government spacecraft.

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