NASA has initiated a $30 million robotic mission aimed at salvaging the ageing Swift space telescope, which is gradually descending toward Earth's atmosphere. The goal of this pioneering effort is to boost the satellite into a higher orbit to extend its operational life and prevent it from burning up upon re-entry.

The mission, developed by American startup Katalyst, marks an innovative approach to satellite maintenance, potentially setting a precedent for future efforts to rejuvenate aging spacecraft. The robotic spacecraft tasked with the operation was deployed aboard a Pegasus rocket, which itself was air-launched from a carrier plane.

Once in orbit, the robot will seek out the Swift telescope and use three robotic arms to dock with it—a process anticipated to take several weeks. After securing the telescope, the mission team plans to propel it roughly 300 kilometers higher, restoring it to close to its original orbital altitude. The complete operation is expected to continue for at least one month.

If successful, this mission could demonstrate new capabilities for in-orbit satellite servicing, potentially allowing other satellites to receive maintenance, refueling, or orbital boosts, thus extending their useful lifespans and reducing space debris.