NASA abandons rescue mission for Swift telescope as reentry approaches

14:47

By: Azzat Manal

NASA abandons rescue mission for Swift telescope as reentry approaches

NASA has ended its attempt to save the Swift space telescope after the spacecraft designed to perform the rescue developed persistent control problems. The decision means that the long-serving observatory is now expected to make an uncontrolled return through Earth’s atmosphere before the end of 2026.

NASA had committed about $30 million to the rescue effort, which was intended to raise Swift’s orbit and extend its scientific mission. The exact date and location of the telescope’s eventual reentry remain uncertain.

The rescue spacecraft, known as LINC and developed by startup Catalyst Space, was launched in July with the goal of approaching Swift, attaching itself to the observatory and moving it from its declining orbit to a higher altitude. The maneuver was designed to keep the telescope operational for several additional years.

However, LINC began spinning uncontrollably only weeks after launch. Although flight controllers managed to reduce the rotation, continuing problems with its guidance and attitude-control systems prevented the spacecraft from reliably positioning itself for the planned rendezvous.

Engineers attempted to restore control by uploading new guidance software. The intervention slowed the spacecraft’s rotation but did not fully resolve the problem. After weeks of monitoring and technical assessments, NASA and Catalyst Space concluded that the conditions were no longer suitable for attempting to capture and raise Swift.

Despite the failed rescue, LINC is expected to continue conducting rendezvous and proximity maneuvers where possible. NASA sees the effort as an opportunity to test technologies that could eventually support satellite servicing and other forms of in-orbit assistance.

Swift was launched in 2004 to study gamma-ray bursts, among the most powerful explosions known to occur in the universe. The observatory was originally designed for a much shorter mission, but it remained scientifically productive for more than two decades, observing a wide range of cosmic phenomena.

Its low-Earth orbit has gradually deteriorated, with increased solar activity contributing to atmospheric drag and accelerating the telescope’s eventual descent.

NASA officials have described the rescue attempt as a calculated effort to preserve a valuable scientific asset while developing new capabilities for future space missions. Although Swift itself may soon be lost, the data and experience gained from the attempted rescue could help shape future efforts to repair, reposition or extend the lives of spacecraft in orbit.