NASA and Katalyst Space Technologies have decided to abandon the mission to save the Swift Observatory, leading to the inevitable fiery re-entry of the telescope later this year. The decision was made due to issues with controlling the spacecraft, preventing the Link spacecraft from capturing Swift and boosting it to a higher orbit.
Swift Observatory, known for its two-decade-long observation of cosmic phenomena such as gamma ray bursts and exploding stars, will now descend through the atmosphere, with its demise not expected before October. NASA had paid $30 million to Katalyst in an effort to extend the telescope’s lifespan by raising it to a safer orbit, but unforeseen solar activity caused it to lose altitude at a faster rate than anticipated.
The rescue spacecraft, Link, encountered difficulties shortly after its launch in July, entering an uncontrollable spin. Despite efforts to stabilize its trajectory, ongoing problems with pointing and positioning persisted, leading to the mission’s cancellation. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman expressed disappointment in the outcome but emphasized the importance of attempting the mission.
As a silver lining, Katalyst plans to continue operating Link in close proximity to the telescope to showcase its capabilities for future rescue missions. The ambitious mission, initiated in less than a year, aimed to demonstrate high-risk, high-reward technologies and has provided valuable insights, according to Katalyst CEO Ghonhee Lee.
Swift Observatory, launched in 2004, had its science instruments deactivated earlier this year to slow its descent, orbiting at 345 kilometers as of the latest update. The initial plan was to restore it to its original orbit of 600 kilometers for extended cosmic observations. The fate of NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope, which could benefit from a similar orbital adjustment, remains uncertain following the Swift Observatory mission’s conclusion.