The world's first 'space telescope rescue mission' has failed. The US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announced on the 24th that it had given up on the 'Servicing Mission 4' to rescue the Hubble Space Telescope. The 'Servicing Mission 4' was a spacewalk repair mission that was launched on December 19 last year. The space shuttle Endeavour carrying a crew of seven astronauts, including veteran astronaut Joe Gibbs, who had previously performed spacewalk repairs on the Hubble Space Telescope four times, was dispatched. However, on the 24th, NASA announced that due to a malfunction in the shuttle's robotic arm, the mission had failed. The robotic arm, which was crucial for capturing the Hubble Space Telescope, had malfunctioned, making it impossible to approach the telescope. As a result, the seven astronauts on board, including Joe Gibbs, were forced to return to Earth without completing the rescue mission. The Hubble Space Telescope, launched in 1990, has been in operation for 16 years, exceeding its initial planned lifespan of 15 years. NASA had planned to extend its lifespan through this rescue mission. However, with this failure, the Hubble Space Telescope's future operations have become uncertain. The European Space Agency's (ESA) 'Gaia' spacecraft and NASA's 'James Webb Space Telescope' are scheduled to be launched in 2013 and 2014, respectively. These next-generation space telescopes are expected to replace the Hubble Space Telescope. However, there is still a possibility that the Hubble Space Telescope may continue to operate. NASA plans to closely monitor the situation and make a final decision on the future of the Hubble Space Telescope.
The United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) attempted to perform the world's first space telescope rescue mission, but it ultimately failed. On July 19, the agency launched a rescue spacecraft, the Link, to raise the altitude of the crippled Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory (Swift Telescope) which was in danger of falling back to Earth.
However, technical limitations and fuel depletion prevented the mission from being completed. Consequently, the Swift Telescope, which has been observing gamma-ray bursts from space since 2004, is set to re-enter Earth's atmosphere and disintegrate by the end of this year. Originally orbiting at an altitude of 690 kilometers, the Swift Telescope's descent speed drastically accelerated in 2024 due to increased solar activity.
Without the ability to raise its own orbit, NASA partnered with space company Caltellite to create a rescue spacecraft, which was successfully launched on July 3. The rescue spacecraft, equipped with three robotic arms, was intended to capture the telescope and gradually guide it into a stable orbit over three months. However, a propulsion system malfunction led to uncontrollable orientation, and the failure to consume enough fuel resulted in the loss of the necessary power for the mission.
NASA has halted the Link's attempt to capture the Swift Telescope but plans to continue docking and proximity operations for future missions. NASA Administrator Jeffrey A. Irving stated, "While our goal was not achieved, the value of attempting this mission remains intact." Swift Telescope is expected to resume normal scientific observations before its impending demise.
Alice Fisher, a NASA spokesperson, expects limited observation data during the final month of atmospheric re-entry, warning that some debris may reach the surface, but the risk of injury is very low.
Written by urgent.news from Hankyoreh's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
