NASA and Katalyst Space Technologies have decided to end the mission to save the Swift Observatory, leaving the telescope to face a fiery re-entry later this year. The decision comes after the Link spacecraft, launched by Katalyst to rescue Swift, encountered issues with spacecraft control, leading to the abandonment of the capture and boost mission.
Swift Observatory, known for its two-decade-long monitoring of cosmic phenomena like gamma ray bursts and exploding stars, will now descend through the atmosphere, with its demise expected no earlier than October. Despite NASA’s $30 million investment in Katalyst to raise Swift to a safer orbit, the telescope experienced rapid altitude loss due to heightened solar activity.
The rescue spacecraft, Link, faced challenges shortly after its launch in July, spinning uncontrollably. Despite efforts to stabilize its trajectory, ongoing problems with pointing and positioning persisted. NASA’s administrator, Jared Isaacman, expressed disappointment in the mission’s outcome but highlighted the value of the attempted rescue effort.
As a silver lining, Katalyst plans to demonstrate future rescue capabilities by continuing to operate Link in close proximity to Swift. The ambitious mission, completed within a year, was described by Katalyst CEO Ghonhee Lee as high-risk yet rewarding, leading to valuable insights and learnings.
Initially launched in 2004, Swift Observatory had its scientific instruments deactivated earlier this year to slow its descent, maintaining an orbit of 345 kilometers as of the recent decision. Katalyst’s goal of returning Swift to its original 600-kilometer orbit for extended cosmic observations remains unfulfilled. Additionally, NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope, also facing orbital decay due to solar activity, awaits a potential rescue attempt that was contingent on the success of the Swift mission.