Telescope Rescue Fails

A Flagstaff company’s bid to rescue a sinking NASA telescope was called off Wednesday, dooming the observatory to a fiery reentry in October or later.

Control problems that surfaced weeks after the spacecraft’s July liftoff ended any chance of capturing the Swift Observatory, Katalyst Space Technologies said.

NASA paid the startup $30 million to boost Swift into a safer orbit after intense solar activity pushed the telescope down faster than expected. Swift, launched in 2004, was orbiting 214 miles up as of Wednesday.

The Hubble telescope was next in line for a similar boost. “This is not the outcome we were working toward, but it does not change why this mission was worth attempting,” NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said.

Solar Faces Pushback

A solar industry advocate said the industry faces growing opposition from Arizona lawmakers, utility regulators, and some utility companies.

Autumn Johnson, executive director of the Arizona Solar Energy Industries Association, said the waning support is also reflected in a 25% to 30% decline in her group’s membership over the past two years.

Elsewhere, regulators approved a 10% cut in the reimbursement rates for rooftop solar customers and repealed the state’s renewable energy standards, saying the goals were met.

A group of state lawmakers also intensified their efforts to discourage utility-scale solar development. Solar supplies 13% of Arizona’s grid.

Storms Batter Valley

A wall of dust and damaging winds rolled into the Phoenix area around 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, damaging buildings and knocking out power to thousands of customers.

Winds tore part of a roof off a Mesa apartment complex, damaged a high school in Tempe, and downed trees in Gilbert and Phoenix. Salt River Project reported about 17,000 customers without power in Maricopa County at the peak, plus more than 1,000 in Pinal County.

Meanwhile, near-record heat is expected today into the weekend for much of the state. In the metro Phoenix area, the extreme heat warning runs through Sunday evening, with highs forecast around 110 degrees. 

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➤ Phoenix: The city will add 25 AI-run traffic signals downtown to move visitors faster after events at Chase Field and Mortgage Matchup Center, with 16 more planned near Loop 101. (More)

➤ Apache County: Google will donate $600,000 to Trout Unlimited to replace culverts along Paradise Creek, part of a pledge to replenish 120% of the freshwater the company consumes by 2030. (More)

➤ Southern Arizona: New federal grants will expand digital preservation at the University of Arizona and bring Smithsonian programming to Copper Queen Library in Bisbee. (More)

➤ Statewide: Arizona’s water finance agency proposed trading infrastructure funding to California and Mexico for part of their Colorado River water. The water wouldn’t become available for at least a decade. (More)

➤ Phoenix: Arizona State University welcomed 36 students to its new four-year program in downtown that trains students to become both physicians and engineers. (More)

➤ Sierra Vista: City officials said planned solar panels, EV chargers, and water-saving landscaping at the municipal golf course will cut costs and water use. (More)

➤ Nogales: Port of entry agents blocked handmade masks and costumes built with chicken feet and bird feathers in July, citing animal-disease risk. (More)

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➤ Arizona Cardinals rookie Wydett Williams Jr. is among 33 players granted a potential path back to college football for a fifth season. He could return to college if the Cardinals cut him. (More)

➤ Arizona Diamondbacks CEO Derrick Hall said Ketel Marte had still not explained his absence as of Thursday morning, days after the All-Star second baseman skipped a game in Boston. (More)

➤ The University of Arizona put up three billboards promoting quarterback Noah Fifita for the Heisman Trophy, including two near rival ASU’s campus in Tempe. (More)

➤ ESPN ranked the Arizona Cardinals last in its annual Future Power Rankings, which project team success from 2027 through 2029 based on quarterback, roster, coaching, and front office. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: NFL | MLB | Golf | Tennis | WNBA | Little League World Series

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➤ Cox cable TV and internet customers across most of the state will shift to the Spectrum brand after Charter closed its purchase of Cox on Thursday, with pricing changes arriving in mid-September. (More)

➤ Rural Arizona utilities won approval from the Corporation Commission for a new process to review contracts with power-hungry customers such as data centers. (More)

➤ The mortgage company led by Suns and Mercury owner Mat Ishbia reported a loss of nearly $500 million for the second quarter. (More)

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➤ An Arizona State University professor turned his home into a Lego workshop, spending hours a day building a giant version of the school’s mascot, Sparky. (More)

➤ A working farm inside Tucson city limits teaches Arizona students to run drones, apply artificial intelligence, and handle livestock for careers in agriculture. (More)

➤ About 250 students make up the University of Arizona’s Pride of Arizona marching band this year, representing more than 100 majors from engineering to nursing. (More)

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The following stories are featured exclusively on The Flyover Podcast—a daily show that gives you the most important headlines in under 15 minutes. Clicking the links will take you directly to these stories:

➤ Two fishermen were found off the coast of Mexico after a shipwreck left them clinging to a large cooler for five days. (Hear Details)

➤ Is intermittent fasting overhyped, or does it really work? (Hear Episode)

➤ In sorority basements across the country, hidden teams are digging up dirt that can tank a recruit’s chances. (Full Story)

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