NASA and private partner Katalyst Space have officially abandoned efforts to save the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory. A dedicated rescue spacecraft (LINK) was launched to grab the telescope and boost its orbit, prolonging its scientific mission. However, LINK encountered critical orientation and control system failures, leading to uncontrolled rotation that engineers could not fully resolve. As a result, Swift will descend and burn up in Earth’s atmosphere by the end of 2026. While the rescue failed, Katalyst and NASA plan to use the remaining opportunity to practice close-proximity maneuvers — this data will be invaluable for future in-space servicing missions.
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