NASA satellite rescue mission fails, says US space agency

An attempt to rescue a NASA satellite from burning up in Earth's atmosphere has ended in failure, according to the US space agency. The Swift space telescope, which investigates the most powerful explosions in the universe, may now re-enter the atmosphere and disintegrate later this year. The mission, costing $30 million, aimed to send a robot to capture the telescope and relocate it to a higher orbit.

However, the rescue spacecraft failed to maintain control, spinning out of control for 72 hours with multiple technical issues, including communication loss. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman acknowledged the mission's failure, stating it was not the desired outcome, but emphasized the mission's value in exploring future satellite servicing capabilities.

Katalyst, the American startup behind the unmanned spacecraft, cited "ongoing attitude control issues" as the reason for the mission's cancellation. Despite the setback, NASA plans to continue attempting to reach the Swift telescope, hoping the experience will provide valuable lessons for future missions.