NASA and Katalyst Space Technologies have called off the mission to rescue the aging Swift space telescope, which is now slated for a fiery reentry into Earth's atmosphere later this year. The decision comes more than a month after Katalyst's Link spacecraft launched with the objective of capturing Swift and repositioning it into a higher, more stable orbit.
Katalyst cited control problems with the Link spacecraft as the reason for aborting the capture attempt. NASA confirmed that the failure of this mission means the telescope, after more than two decades of observing significant cosmic events like gamma-ray bursts and exploding stars, will not be placed into a safer, longer-lasting orbit. NASA had awarded Katalyst a $30 million contract for the rescue operation. Intense solar activity had caused Swift to lose altitude faster than anticipated.
The Link rescue spacecraft experienced issues shortly after its early July liftoff, entering an uncontrollable spin. Although flight controllers were able to slow its rotation, persistent problems with its pointing and positioning capabilities ultimately led to the mission's cancellation.
"This is not the outcome we were working toward, but it does not change why this mission was worth attempting," said NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman in a statement. As a consolation, Katalyst intends to continue operating Link in proximity to Swift to demonstrate capabilities for future orbital rescue operations.
Katalyst CEO Ghonhee Lee acknowledged the ambitious nature and aggressive timeline of the mission, which was developed in under a year. "We took on this high-risk, high-reward challenge and are proud of the milestones we reached along the way," Lee stated. "We have already learned a tremendous amount."
Launched in 2004, Swift's science instruments were powered down earlier this year to decelerate its descent. As of last week, the telescope was orbiting at an altitude of 216 miles (347 kilometers).
NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, which is also experiencing orbital decay due to recent solar activity, could have been a candidate for a similar rescue attempt had the Swift mission succeeded. It remains uncertain if Hubble will still be considered for an orbital boost.