NASA's Swift Observatory Rescue Attempt Faces Setbacks After Space Tug Malfunctions

NASA's plan to extend the life of the 22-year-old Swift observatory encountered a problem when the robotic space tug, LINK, launched on July 3 began to tumble uncontrollably. The agency said the spacecraft suffered a loss of attitude-control capability, with two of its three reaction wheels inoperable and reduced performance in its cold-gas thruster system, leading to intermittent communications.

Despite the malfunction, other subsystems remain operational, allowing engineers to maintain contact with LINK and work on stopping its spin before deciding on further actions. The Swift telescope, which remains the only orbital instrument capable of detecting gamma-ray bursts, is expected to re-enter Earth's atmosphere in the coming months without a successful boost.

NASA astrophysics director Shawn Domagal-Goldman said, "From a programmatics standpoint, I consider this a success already, just from the fact that we're even going to try this," reflecting the agency's willingness to pursue the novel approach despite the technical challenges.

The contract with Katalyst Space Technologies for the rescue effort is valued at $30 million, a fraction of NASA's broader budget for lunar and other missions.