Katalyst Space Technologies' Swift Observatory rescue mission

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The effort by Katalyst Space Technologies, using its LINK spacecraft, to intercept, capture, and lift NASA's aging Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory to a higher orbit before its uncontrolled reentry into Earth's atmosphere.

Robotic rescue of NASA telescope highlights challenge of capturing space junk

A commercial robotic spacecraft launched July 3 on an emergency mission to rescue NASA's aging Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, which has been slowly falling toward Earth. The mission, led by Katalyst Space Technologies' spacecraft LINK,…

2026-07-22 · 4 MIN READ

NASA calls off Swift telescope rescue mission

NASA and Katalyst Space Technologies ended their Swift Observatory rescue mission on Wednesday, dooming the telescope to reenter Earth's atmosphere later this year.
Katalyst's Link spacecraft will not attempt to capture Swift because of continuing attitude-control problems that began with an uncontrollable spin weeks after its early-July liftoff.
NASA said Swift had tracked gamma-ray bursts and exploding stars for more than 20 years before intense solar activity caused the telescope to lose altitude faster than expected.
NASA paid Katalyst $30 million for the rescue attempt, which was meant to raise Swift to a safer, longer-lasting orbit.

2026-08-19 · 3 MIN READ