The rescue satellite has approached NASA’s Swift telescope, but it will no longer be able to save it

Katalyst Space’s LINK robotic spacecraft has approached NASA’s Swift telescope to within 12–15 kilometres. This marked the near-conclusion of the rescue mission: LINK will no longer be able to raise the observatory’s orbit.

NASA and Katalyst had abandoned attempts to capture and tow Swift back in August due to problems with LINK’s orientation. However, the spacecraft continued its approach to test technologies that may prove useful for future in-orbit servicing of satellites.

Details

According to NASA, in early September, LINK raised its own orbit, aligned it with Swift, deployed all three robotic arms and simultaneously fired all three electric thrusters. The spacecraft then approached the observatory to within 7.5–9 miles, or approximately 12–15 kilometres.

It will not get any closer than this. Katalyst estimates that LINK will depart from orbit in about two to three weeks.

Originally, LINK was supposed to capture Swift and raise it to a higher orbit in order to extend the telescope’s scientific mission. However, following its launch, the spacecraft experienced problems with its attitude control. In August, NASA officially announced that the plan to capture and raise Swift had to be abandoned, leaving only a demonstration of the approach and the operation of the spacecraft’s systems.

Swift itself was launched in 2004 and has been observing gamma-ray bursts and other rapidly changing cosmic phenomena for more than two decades. Increased solar activity has accelerated the descent of its orbit. At the end of August, NASA resumed scientific observations using two of the telescope’s three instruments.

Why this matters

The mission did not achieve its primary objective, but it gave NASA and Katalyst the opportunity to test the rendezvous, robotic manipulators and thrusters of the service module in a real-world flight environment. These technologies are needed to service satellites that were not originally designed to be repaired or refuelled in space.

For Swift, this does not mean it is saved: its orbit continues to decline, and according to forecasts by NASA and Katalyst, the observatory is expected to re-enter the atmosphere later in 2026. However, the experience gained from the LINK mission can be utilised in the development of future servicing missions.

Source

Main source — NASA: Commercial Spacecraft for NASA’s Swift Boost Continues Tech Demo, 4 September 2026. The decision to abandon the orbital lift was confirmed in a NASA statement dated 19 August 2026. Original news report: Phys.org / Associated Press.