NASA launches robot mission to retrieve falling space telescope

A NASA‑funded robotic spacecraft was launched Tuesday to intercept a de‑orbiting space telescope before it re‑enters Earth’s atmosphere. The vehicle, dubbed the Orbital Retrieval System (ORS), will rendezvous with the telescope in low‑Earth orbit, capture it using a deployable net, and then fire a set of thrusters to raise the combined mass into a stable, higher‑altitude orbit, averting the risk of the telescope burning up on re‑entry.

The mission, a joint effort between NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and several commercial partners, is intended to demonstrate a reusable method for salvaging high‑value space assets and mitigating orbital debris. Engineers expect the ORS to complete the capture within a 48‑hour window and to perform the boost maneuver within a week, after which the telescope will be monitored for continued operation. Successful execution could pave the way for future retrievals of defunct satellites and telescopes, extending the functional lifespan of costly scientific instruments in orbit.