NASA launches robotic mission to save space telescope

The spacecraft will now attempt to catch, dock and push the ageing Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory into a higher orbit, extending its scientific life by several years.

A three-armed spacecraft rocketed into orbit Friday to rescue a NASA telescope that’s in danger of crashing back to Earth.

A Pegasus rocket blasted off from the belly of a modified aircraft putting Link on course to reach and capture NASA’s Swift Observatory in about a month.

A successful bid to stop the Swift telescope from burning up in the atmosphere could pave the way for giving other satellites a second life