Private spacecraft falls back to Earth after failing to rescue aging NASA telescope

• A private spacecraft, Link, failed to rescue an aging NASA telescope, reentering Earth's atmosphere after less than three months in space. The mission, sponsored by NASA, aimed to save the Swift Observatory, which was expected to continue observing cosmic events until early November.
• The spacecraft, launched on July 3, faced electronic issues and a faulty valve, leading to a spin that disrupted communication. Engineers regained control but Link lacked fuel to complete the rescue, and the mission was called off in August. The mission provided valuable practice for future satellite-rescue efforts and pushed teams to work under tight deadlines.
• Katalyst Space Technologies used the remaining time to practice moving Link's robot arms and guide it close enough to take pictures of Swift. The company plans to use the lessons learned for future missions. Swift is now back in space, continuing its work as a cosmic observer.

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