Astronomy Picture of the Day

   [1]Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our
      fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation
                    written by a professional astronomer.

                                 2026 July 8
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                             Swift Boost Mission
                       Image Credit: [2]Katalyst Space
     Text: [3]Cecilia Chirenti ([4]NASA [5]GSFC, [6]UMCP, [7]CRESST II)

   Explanation: Sometimes we can all use [8]a little help from a friend.
   [9]NASA's [10]Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory needs a boost to stay in
   orbit after almost 22 years of service. This [11]video shows an
   artist's visualization of the [12]Swift Boost Mission: The
   [13]Katalyst's [14]LINK spacecraft was launched aboard a [15]Northrop
   Grumman [16]Pegasus XL rocket on July 3 and it is now en route to
   rendezvous with Swift and boost it to a higher orbit over the course of
   the next [17]several months. This type of maneuver has [18]never been
   attempted before. If successful, it will be the technology
   demonstration of a new key capability to extended the lifetime of
   spacecraft in low Earth orbit, whose orbits [19]decay over time. Swift
   has an array of [20]instruments that observe the most energetic
   [21]explosions in the Universe in gamma-rays, X-rays and ultraviolet,
   and the unique ability to repoint in their direction within [22]tens of
   seconds. Astronomers around the world, and indeed all fans of cosmic
   explosions, are [23]anxiously hoping for a successful mission!

                       Tomorrow's picture: Cosmic bat
     __________________________________________________________________

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    Authors & editors: [35]Robert Nemiroff ([36]MTU) & [37]Jerry Bonnell
                                 ([38]UMCP)
          NASA Official: Amber Straughn [39]Specific rights apply.
            [40]NASA Web Privacy, [41]Accessibility, [42]Notices;
                A service of: [43]ASD at [44]NASA / [45]GSFC,
                         [46]NASA Science Activation
                           & [47]Michigan Tech. U.

References

   1. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
   2. https://www.katalystspace.com/
   3. https://science.gsfc.nasa.gov/sci/bio/cecilia.chirenti
   4. https://www.nasa.gov/
   5. https://www.nasa.gov/goddard/
   6. https://www.astro.umd.edu/people/cecilia-chirenti
   7. https://cresst2.umd.edu/
   8. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0C58ttB2-Qg
   9. https://www.nasa.gov/
  10. https://science.nasa.gov/mission/swift/
  11. https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/15051/#media_group_380453
  12. https://science.nasa.gov/mission/swift/swift-boost-mission/
  13. https://www.katalystspace.com/
  14. https://www.katalystspace.com/news/katalyst-develops-design-for-nasa-to-rescue-500m-space-telescope
  15. https://www.northropgrumman.com/
  16. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_Pegasus
  17. https://science.nasa.gov/mission/swift/swift-boost-mission/timeline/
  18. https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/15051/#media_group_380414
  19. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orbital_decay
  20. https://www.swift.ac.uk/about/instruments.php
  21. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap130508.html
  22. https://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/observatories/learning/swift/faq/
  23. https://i0.wp.com/catcaresolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/funny-wet-cat.jpg
  24. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260707.html
  25. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
  26. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/apsubmit2015.html
  27. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/aptree.html
  28. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/apod/apod_search
  29. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/calendar/allyears.html
  30. https://apod.com/feed.rss
  31. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/edlinks.html
  32. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html
  33. https://asterisk.apod.com/discuss_apod.php?date=260708
  34. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260709.html
  35. https://www.mtu.edu/physics/department/faculty/nemiroff/
  36. https://www.mtu.edu/physics/
  37. https://inspirehep.net/authors/1073087
  38. http://www.astro.umd.edu/
  39. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html#srapply
  40. https://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/HP_Privacy.html
  41. https://www.nasa.gov/general/accessibility/
  42. https://www.nasa.gov/privacy/
  43. https://science.gsfc.nasa.gov/astrophysics/
  44. https://www.nasa.gov/
  45. https://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/
  46. https://science.nasa.gov/learn/about-science-activation/
  47. http://www.mtu.edu/