Private spacecraft approaches NASA's Swift telescope but lacks fuel for rescue
Katalyst Space Technologies' Link spacecraft came within nine miles of the aging Swift Observatory, capturing images, but insufficient fuel prevented a boost to a higher orbit, leaving the telescope on a path to re-entry later this year.
A private satellite built by Katalyst Space Technologies approached NASA's Swift Observatory to within about 15 kilometres (nine miles) and recorded data, but the mission could not raise the telescope's orbit because the spacecraft ran low on fuel.
Link, a three-armed robotic vehicle, entered an uncontrolled spin after launching for the rescue in July. Flight controllers stabilized the vehicle, consuming much of its fuel, and the remaining amount was insufficient to lift Swift to a longer-lasting trajectory.
Katalyst CEO Ghonhee Lee said the effort was rushed, noting the mission was assembled in nine months and often used available parts rather than preferred components. NASA paid Katalyst $30 million for the experiment, describing it as a low-risk test despite concerns about creating space debris.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said the outcome was not as expected but emphasized the value of such missions for learning and future refueling projects, citing the Roman Space Telescope as an example of a spacecraft designed for in-orbit refueling.
Swift, launched in 2004, is expected to re-enter the atmosphere between October and December, accelerated by recent intense solar activity. Katalyst plans to continue using Link to practice arm operations and gather data before the vehicle itself burns up in the coming month.
Lee added that servicing older telescopes, once considered a niche concept, is likely to become more common, and the company is developing a next-generation vehicle that could extend the life of the Hubble Space Telescope.