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Nasa launches robotic mission to save space telescope

Nasa launches robotic mission to save space telescope
South China Morning Post Friday 03 July 2026, 19:01 UTC By Agence France-Presse 1 min read
Key Points

Nasa launched a robotic mission on Friday to try to prevent one of its ageing telescopes from burning up in the atmosphere, a complicated operation expected to last several months. The unprecedented US$30 million effort involves sending a robot to rescue the Swift space telescope that is currently falling towards Earth. If successful, the mission could pave the way for giving other satellites a second life.

Nasa launched a robotic mission on Friday to try to prevent one of its ageing telescopes from burning up in the atmosphere, a complicated operation expected to last several months. The unprecedented US$30 million effort involves sending a robot to rescue the Swift space telescope that is currently falling towards Earth. If successful, the mission could pave the way for giving other satellites a second life. Initially scheduled for Tuesday, the robot’s launch was postponed due to weather and then...
Nasa (ORG) Earth (LOCATION)
Originally published by South China Morning Post Read original →

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