Science and Technology News

Swift Rescue Mission

August 25 , 2026 16 hrs 0 min 15 0

NASA abandoned its attempt to rescue the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory after the rescue spacecraft LINK developed control problems.
LINK, developed by Katalyst Space, was launched on 3 July 2026 to boost Swift’s declining orbit.
Some of LINK’s reaction wheels failed, causing it to spin out of control; efforts to stabilise it with thrusters failed.
Swift, launched in 2004, studies gamma-ray bursts and other high-energy cosmic events.
Without an orbital boost, Swift is expected to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere before the end of 2026.