Rescue mission to save NASA’s Swift space telescope is imperiled in orbit
A private spacecraft launched to boost the decaying orbit of NASA’s Swift Observatory is now suffering from potentially mission-ending malfunctions
A private spacecraft designed to rescue NASA's Swift space telescope is now facing its own rescue mission due to potential mission-ending malfunctions. The Lightweight In-Space Navigation and Kinematics (LINK) servicing spacecraft, built by Arizona-based Katalyst Space Technologies for $30 million, was launched in July to boost the decaying orbit of the aging Swift Observatory.
However, LINK has begun spinning out of control and temporarily lost communications, with two of its three reaction wheels and a set of smaller thrusters now out of operation. If successful, LINK aims to capture Swift and raise its orbit using xenon-gas thrusters, giving it a new lease on life. The setback puts more than Swift at risk, as LINK also tests the capability of robotic spacecraft to service satellites not designed for repair in orbit.
Katalyst is currently working to stabilize LINK's spin using xenon-gas thrusters, with any attempt to approach and capture Swift expected to take several weeks.
Written by urgent.news from Scientific American's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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