NASA is trying to save the Swift Observatory, a space telescope that has spent more than 20 years in orbit and is now slowly losing altitude toward Earth. Researchers say increased solar activity has expanded Earth’s atmosphere, creating more drag and gradually slowing the telescope. Because Swift has no engine of its own, it cannot correct its orbit, and unless something changes it is expected to burn up when it reenters the atmosphere within a few months.
To prevent that, NASA is testing a first-of-its-kind repair mission with Katalyst Space Technologies. The two organizations built a special spacecraft called Link in just nine months. It is described as a small “space tug” with robotic arms, designed to meet the telescope in space, attach to it, and push it into a higher, safer orbit.
If the mission works, Swift would gain at least five more years of life. That would allow it to continue contributing to scientific research on gamma-ray bursts and on the origins of elements such as gold and platinum.
The article then turns to a separate science topic, explaining why mosquitoes bite some people more than others. Female mosquitoes, the only ones that bite, are drawn by a combination of carbon dioxide, body heat, moisture and, especially, human odor. They can detect exhaled carbon dioxide from tens of meters away and smell human scent from about 10 meters. The odor is a chemical cocktail of hundreds of molecules, partly produced by bacteria living on the skin. Contrary to popular belief, blood type, eye color and hair color do not significantly affect attraction, while body fat composition, pregnancy and drinking alcohol can increase the chance of being bitten.
