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NASA gives up on trying to rescue the Swift telescope

ThinkingNews Desk · how this was written

NASA has cancelled the planned rescue operation for the Swift gamma-ray observatory, ending efforts to intervene as the satellite continues its uncontrolled descent toward Earth. The agency’s decision leaves the telescope to re-enter the atmosphere without assistance, concluding the mission that had been organized to capture and stabilize the falling asset.

Written from all 3 reports below, not from any single one.

How it was reported

  1. Ars Technica·
    NASA calls off mission to rescue Swift gamma-ray observatory

    NASA and Katalyst Space Technologies cancelled the Link mission, which was launched on July 3 to rendezvous with the Swift gamma-ray observatory, capture it with three robotic arms and raise its orbit using xenon-powered electric thrusters. Ongoing attitude-control problems prevent Link from completing the rescue, though the spacecraft remains functional and may still demonstrate its close-in navigation capability.

  2. Engadget·
    NASA calls off mission to rescue the falling Swift observatory

    NASA cancelled the planned boost for the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory after Katalyst’s LINK spacecraft suffered persistent attitude-control and thruster problems that began in late July, leaving the telescope to re-enter and burn up later this year. LINK will still attempt a rendezvous to collect data for future satellite-servicing missions.

  3. The Verge·
    NASA gives up on trying to rescue the Swift telescope

    NASA and Katalyst Space announced that the Link spacecraft will no longer attempt to raise the Swift Observatory’s orbit because of an unresolved attitude-control problem. Instead, Link will conduct rendezvous and proximity operations to gather data on such maneuvers for future missions. The effort was a high-risk, rapid-timeline project driven by solar activity.

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