NASA Announces Next Steps for Swift Rescue Mission

NASA has authorized a rescue mission for the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, which has been in orbit for 21 years and 9 months. The mission, called LINK, was launched on July 3, 2026, to attempt a rendezvous with Swift, but the spacecraft began to tumble out of control due to an attitude control issue. Despite this, LINK will still attempt to rendezvous and conduct proximity operations to demonstrate capabilities for future satellite servicing. The mission is part of a joint effort between NASA and Katalyst Space to advance the U.S. space industry and satellite servicing capabilities.

• The mission was authorized due to Swift's orbit decaying from atmospheric drag, which accelerated last year.
• Katalyst Space stated the mission was far from over, with data collection expected to be instrumental for future missions.
• The mission is a significant step in robotic satellite servicing, with LINK being the first such mission to be designed, built, tested, and launched in nine months.
• NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman emphasized the importance of taking smart risks and moving quickly when the potential return is worth it, highlighting the mission's value despite the challenges.

AI-generated summary of the original article — see the source for the full story.