NASA aborts satellite rescue mission after Link satellite fails

NASA and Katalyst Space Technologies announced that the Link satellite will no longer attempt to capture and raise the Swift space telescope to a stable orbit. The rescue effort, funded with $30 million from NASA, was intended to demonstrate commercial capabilities by having Link rendezvous with Swift, which has been descending since its orbit decayed.

Link entered orbit last year but entered a rapid multi-axis spin a few weeks after launch. Katalyst used remaining propulsion to stop the spin and restore communications, but the maneuver consumed much of the spacecraft’s xenon fuel. With insufficient fuel remaining, the agency concluded that a safe boost of Swift is not possible, and the rescue mission has been cancelled.

Instead, Link will conduct proximity operations around Swift to gather data for future missions. "We knew this was a high-risk, high-reward mission – a first-of-its-kind attempt," said Shawn Domagal-Goldman, director of the Astrophysics Division at NASA Headquarters. "But we knew the takeaways from this mission would be worthwhile either way."

Swift, launched in 2004 to study gamma-ray bursts, is expected to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere later this year and largely burn up, with only small debris potentially reaching the surface. NASA indicated the risk to people on the ground is low.