NASA satellite rescue mission delayed as rocket plane fails to release Pegasus
Northrop Grumman's aircraft took off from the Marshall Islands but could not release the robotic spacecraft needed to capture the Swift Observatory before it crashes.
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A rush rescue mission to save a NASA space telescope remains grounded after a last-minute launch problem Thursday.
Northrop Grumman's rocket-launching plane took off from the Marshall Islands in the Pacific following weather delays all week. But an issue prevented the team from releasing the Pegasus rocket strapped to the plane's belly, according to NASA. The rocket holds a three-armed robotic spacecraft built by Katalyst Space Technologies designed to capture the Swift Observatory, which will come crashing down by October if no help arrives.
No new launch date has been set.
NASA paused Swift's science operations earlier this year to preserve its orbit as long as possible. The telescope has detected thousands of gamma ray bursts and exploding stars since its launch in 2004, tipping off other telescopes for more detailed observations. The space agency hired Katalyst Space last September for the $30 million salvage operation.
