NASA's Swift Observatory Faces Rescue Mission to Avoid Atmospheric Reentry
NASA's Swift Observatory Faces Rescue Mission to Avoid Atmospheric Reentry
UnitedStates · Published Jun 30, 2026
NASA's Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, valued at $250 million, is at risk of uncontrolled reentry due to orbital decay caused by increased solar activity.
Arizona-based Katalyst Space Technologies has developed the LINK spacecraft under a $30 million NASA contract to rescue the observatory.

Impact & Risks

The Swift Observatory has been a critical tool for studying gamma-ray bursts and other cosmic phenomena. Losing it would mean the end of a valuable scientific resource, as no replacement is currently funded. The mission's success could also set a precedent for future robotic satellite rescues, including for the Hubble Space Telescope.

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