To save aging space observatory, NASA taps startup to push it farther in space
NASA has awarded Arizona-based startup Katalyst Space Technologies $30 million to save its $500 million Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory (SWIFT) from falling into Earth’s atmosphere by pushing it to a higher orbit. Launched in 2004, SWIFT has been observing distant galaxies and black holes from low-Earth orbit, about 364 miles (585 km) above the planet, but its orbit is gradually decaying due to atmospheric drag, … Continue reading To save aging space observatory, NASA taps startup to push it farther in space
