A critical rescue mission for NASA’s space telescope remains grounded after a last-minute launch issue. The Northrop Grumman rocket plane took off Thursday from the Marshall Islands in the Pacific following weather-related delays all week. However, a software problem caused a launch cancellation, keeping the Pegasus rocket attached to the plane, according to NASA. The issue has been resolved, and a new launch attempt is scheduled for Friday.
The rocket carries a robotic spacecraft equipped with three arms, designed by Katalyst Space Technologies, to capture the Swift Observatory, which faces a crash by October if not rescued. NASA paused Swift’s scientific operations earlier this year to conserve its orbit for as long as possible. Since its 2004 launch, Swift has detected numerous gamma-ray bursts and exploding stars, prompting other telescopes for more detailed observations. Eager for Swift to continue scanning the universe, NASA hired Katalyst Space last September for the $30 million salvage operation.
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