Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory is a NASA space telescope launched

Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory is a NASA space telescope launched

¨     Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory is a NASA space telescope launched on 20 November 2004.

¨     Its primary mission is to study gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) and other high-energy cosmic events.

¨     The observatory was developed at a cost of about $500 million.

¨     Swift has observed around 1,800 cosmic explosions during more than two decades in orbit.

¨     Before the rescue mission was abandoned, Swift was orbiting at an altitude of about 347 kilometres (216 miles).

¨     NASA had approved a commercial rescue mission to raise Swift’s orbit and extend its operational life.

¨     In September 2025, NASA awarded a $30 million contract to Arizona-based startup Katalyst Space Technologies to develop the commercial servicing mission.

¨     The mission used a robotic rescue spacecraft called Lightweight In-Space Navigation and Kinematics (LINK).

¨     LINK was launched on 3 July 2026 aboard a Northrop Grumman Pegasus XL rocket from Kwajalein Atoll in the Pacific Ocean.

¨     On 28 July 2026, Katalyst reported that LINK entered a multi-axis spin following a critical attitude-control failure.

¨     On 11 August 2026, engineers uploaded new attitude controllers to reduce the spacecraft’s spin.

¨     However, pointing and positioning problems continued despite the corrective measures.

¨     On 19 August 2026, NASA and Katalyst cancelled the primary capture and reboost operation.

¨     The operation was abandoned because safe docking with Swift was no longer possible.

¨     The failed mission highlights the technical challenges involved in commercial satellite servicing, orbital reboosting and spacecraft attitude control.