NASA has called off an attempt to rescue the Swift Observatory after problems with the spacecraft designed to move the ageing telescope into a safer orbit.
The decision means Swift is expected to eventually reenter Earth's atmosphere and burn up.
Katalyst Space Technologies' Link spacecraft developed an uncontrollable spin several weeks after its July launch and experienced continuing pointing and positioning problems.
NASA had awarded Katalyst $30 million for the mission to raise Swift to a higher orbit.
Swift has observed powerful explosions and other events across the universe for more than 20 years.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman described the attempt as worthwhile despite its cancellation. The setback also highlights broader challenges facing ageing space observatories, including Hubble, which is experiencing orbital decay.
Related Tweet:
A mission to prevent a NASA space telescope from coming to a fiery demise in Earth’s atmosphere has failed, the agency announces. https://t.co/1RK7K1xbxw
— NBC News (@NBCNews) August 20, 2026
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