NASA abandons orbit-boosting rescue mission for space observatory

NASA has called off its attempt to rescue the aging Swift space telescope, which is rapidly losing altitude and at risk of re-entering Earth's atmosphere. The telescope does not have the propulsion needed to raise its orbit significantly, as even though it is hundreds of kilometers above Earth, atmospheric drag still affects it.

Each orbit, Swift loses a tiny amount of energy, causing a gradual loss of altitude. Initially, models predicted Swift could remain in orbit until the 2030s, but increased solar activity in 2024 has changed those projections. Now, re-entry is estimated to occur before the end of 2026.

NASA's rescue plan involved sending the LINK spacecraft to catch Swift and use its thrusters to raise it to a safer orbit. LINK was launched on July 3, 2026, but faced issues with its attitude control system shortly after launch. After weeks of attempts, NASA decided to cancel the rescue mission due to these control system problems.

The spacecraft will continue its approach to Swift for the purpose of demonstrating rendezvous, navigation, and close-proximity operations, with the goal of learning from this attempt for future satellite servicing missions.

Although the rescue mission did not succeed, NASA views it as worthwhile given its high-risk nature. The agency acknowledges that Swift was not designed for capture or repair, and LINK was developed under tight timelines. Administrator Jared Isaacman affirmed that moving quickly and taking calculated risks when the potential benefits are significant is essential for advancing satellite servicing capabilities. Swift's re-entry is still uncertain, but NASA projects it will likely occur before the end of 2026.