NASA and Katalyst Space Technologies have officially called off the rescue mission for NASA’s ailing Swift Observatory, leading to the telescope’s eventual fiery re-entry later this year. The decision was announced more than a month after the launch of Katalyst’s Link spacecraft, which encountered difficulties that prevented it from saving Swift by boosting it to a higher orbit.
Katalyst revealed that due to issues with controlling the spacecraft, Link will not be able to capture and maneuver Swift to a safer orbit, causing the telescope to re-enter the Earth’s atmosphere after over two decades of studying cosmic events like gamma ray bursts and supernovae. This re-entry is anticipated to occur no earlier than October.
NASA had invested $30 million in Katalyst’s mission to rescue Swift, aiming to elevate the telescope to a more stable orbit for prolonged operation. However, heightened solar activity accelerated Swift’s descent, leading to the unsuccessful rescue attempt. Despite efforts to stabilize Link after it went into a spin shortly after liftoff in July, ongoing pointing and positioning challenges hindered the mission’s success.
In response to the mission’s outcome, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman expressed disappointment but affirmed the significance of the rescue attempt. Katalyst will now continue to operate Link in close proximity to Swift to showcase its capabilities for potential future rescue missions.
Swift, launched in 2004, had its scientific instruments deactivated earlier this year to slow its orbital decay. Currently orbiting at 345 kilometers above Earth, Katalyst’s original plan was to raise Swift back to its initial orbit of 600 kilometers to extend its observational lifespan. The potential success of this mission would have paved the way for a similar rescue operation for NASA’s aging Hubble Space Telescope, which is also experiencing orbital decay due to recent solar activity. The status of Hubble’s future rescue remains uncertain at this time.