NASA已于8月26日重新启动Swift天文台的两台主要科学仪器——紫外/光学望远镜和X射线望远镜1。这一举措是在原定由Katalyst Space公司执行的轨道升高任务被放弃后进行的1。该公司的LINK飞行器在7月发射后出现方向控制问题，导致8月19日任务被取消1。
Swift正面临日益严峻的衰落危机1。受太阳活动增加引发的地球上层大气扩张影响，这颗已运行21年的NASA多功能观测台正在加速下降1。根据NASA的评估，Swift将在1至2个月内跌至185英里（300公里）的临界高度以下1。一旦跌破这一阈值，卫星将进入更快的轨道衰减阶段1。
NASA has reactivated the two primary scientific instruments aboard the Swift Observatory following the abandonment of a planned orbital reboost mission 1. The ultraviolet/optical telescope and X-ray telescope were brought back online on August 26, 2026, after Katalyst Space's LINK spacecraft encountered directional control problems following its July launch, forcing the agency to cancel the orbital maintenance operation that had been scheduled for August 19, 2026 1.
The decision comes as Swift faces mounting pressure from atmospheric drag caused by increased solar activity, which has expanded Earth's upper atmosphere and accelerated the satellite's orbital decay 1. NASA estimates the observatory will descend below its critical operational threshold of 185 miles (300 kilometers) within one to two months 1. Once the telescope falls below this altitude, it will experience significantly faster orbital degradation 1.
Swift has served as one of NASA's most versatile observatories for 21 years 1. The renewed operation of its scientific instruments represents a continuation of observations during the final phase of the mission before the satellite's orbit becomes untenable.
评论
还没有评论，欢迎留下第一条。