Here's how engineers plan to save the satellite sent to save NASA's Swift mission
A week ago, a satellite named Link, tasked with rescuing NASA's $500 million Swift gamma-ray observatory, encountered significant issues over 200 miles above Earth. The Link satellite, built by Katalyst Space Technologies, began spinning uncontrollably on multiple axes and lost communication with ground control. Two of its three reaction wheels, crucial for pointing, ceased functioning.
Engineers later found that one of Link's cold gas thrusters, designed for precise attitude control, was malfunctioning. Katalyst Space Technologies secured the $30 million contract from NASA to reach the Swift observatory, attach to it, and raise its orbit before succumbing to atmospheric drag.
Written by urgent.news from Ars Technica Science's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
This story
This is one outlet's version. Read the fullest account.
- 'We are not giving up yet': Private mission to rescue NASA's Swift telescope is spinning out of control, and engineers are racing to fix it livescience.com
- NASA's Swift rescue slips to late August as LINK battles its spin theregister.com
- Here's how engineers plan to save the satellite sent to save NASA's Swift mission arstechnica.com
