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Katalyst Space

All articles tagged with #katalyst space

Swift Observatory to Burn Up as Failed Rescue Mission Ends in Atmospheric Reentry
space8 days ago

Swift Observatory to Burn Up as Failed Rescue Mission Ends in Atmospheric Reentry

NASA’s Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory is rapidly decaying toward Earth after a failed commercial rescue mission. The telescope, which has operated for over two decades, is expected to reenter the atmosphere and burn up in early to mid-October. Although the $30 million effort by Katalyst Space Technologies failed to boost Swift’s orbit, it provided critical data for future satellite servicing technologies. Scientists have resumed observations to maximize data collection before the inevitable end, accepting that this activity accelerates the telescope's descent.

via Futurism|
#katalyst-space#nasa#orbital-decay
Swift Observatory to Reenter Atmosphere After Failed Rescue Mission
space8 days ago

Swift Observatory to Reenter Atmosphere After Failed Rescue Mission

NASA’s Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory is expected to burn up in Earth’s atmosphere later this year after a rapid-response rescue mission failed. Katalyst Space Technologies built and launched the 'Link' satellite in nine months to boost Swift’s orbit, but technical malfunctions prevented the capture. While the rescue failed, the mission demonstrated that commercial satellite servicing can be executed on aggressive timelines and at a fraction of traditional government costs.

via Ars Technica|
#katalyst-space#nasa#reentry
Swift Observatory to burn up after failed rescue; LINK mission ends
science9 days ago

Swift Observatory to burn up after failed rescue; LINK mission ends

NASA’s Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory is expected to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere and burn up in early to mid-October 2026. The 22-year-old telescope, which weighs 3,200 pounds, is currently at an altitude of 200 miles and will drop below 185 miles, where operations become unfeasible. A $30 million rescue attempt by Katalyst Space’s LINK satellite failed due to orientation issues and fuel depletion. Although the boost failed, LINK successfully demonstrated robotic arm deployment and close-proximity maneuvers before re-entering on September 25. Swift will continue limited observations until its orbit decays further, with no immediate replacement planned.

via CNN|
#katalyst-space#nasa#orbital-decay
LINK's Narrow Pass Fails to Save NASA's Swift Observatory
science28 days ago

LINK's Narrow Pass Fails to Save NASA's Swift Observatory

LINK, a robotic servicing spacecraft from Katalyst Space, briefly closed in on NASA's Swift Observatory—within about 12 to 15 kilometers—and fired its thrusters and deployed its arms in a last-ditch effort to raise Swift's orbit, but the plan could not save the telescope from an expected end-of-year burn-up; two of Swift's instruments were briefly reactivated in August to monitor conditions as drag waned, while NASA and Katalyst continue to extract data from LINK and pursue technology demonstrations for future satellite servicing.

via Space|
#katalyst-space#link-spacecraft#nasa
Swift Observatory Rescue Slips Toward Crisis as Commercial Grabber Spokesrisks Spins
sciencespace2 months ago

Swift Observatory Rescue Slips Toward Crisis as Commercial Grabber Spokesrisks Spins

NASA's mission to rescue the Swift Observatory is at risk after the LINK grabber, launched on a Pegasus XL, began spinning uncontrollably and has only sporadic communications. Ground teams are using electric propulsion to slow the spin and stabilize LINK so it can reattempt approaching Swift and boost its orbit, potentially by late August. A successful operation would mark the first commercial robotic capture of a government satellite and extend Swift's mission to study gamma-ray bursts for years.

via USA Today|
#katalyst-space#nasa#orbital-rescue
Spin-out crisis as private LINK mission races to rescue NASA’s Swift telescope
space2 months ago

Spin-out crisis as private LINK mission races to rescue NASA’s Swift telescope

A private mission by Katalyst Space to reposition NASA’s Swift gamma‑ray observatory has hit a snag: the LINK spacecraft is spinning after launch, threatening to delay the rescue unless engineers can stabilize it. With two of three attitude‑control wheels malfunctioning and rotation reduced to about four degrees per second from nine, teams aim for a late‑August rendezvous with Swift before the telescope drops back to Earth this autumn, a success that could extend Swift’s life by years and cost roughly $30 million.

via Live Science|
#katalyst-space#link-spacecraft#nasa
NASA plots daring private rescue to save the Swift observatory
space3 months ago

NASA plots daring private rescue to save the Swift observatory

NASA is planning an unprecedented rescue to save the Swift gamma-ray burst observatory from a rapidly decaying low-Earth orbit by launching the LINK robotic servicing spacecraft on a Pegasus XL to capture and boost Swift to a higher orbit, extending its mission life and marking the first time a commercial vehicle would service a government satellite not designed for in-space servicing.

via USA Today|
#katalyst-space#link#nasa
NASA to Preview Robotic Mission to Lift Swift Observatory's Orbit
space3 months ago

NASA to Preview Robotic Mission to Lift Swift Observatory's Orbit

NASA will host an audio-only teleconference to preview the Katalyst Space mission, in which the LINK robotic servicing spacecraft will rendezvous with the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory to boost its altitude and extend the telescope's science mission; the LINK craft is slated to launch later this month on Northrop Grumman’s Pegasus XL from Kwajalein Atoll, marking a milestone in robotic space servicing for future exploration.

via NASA (.gov)|
#katalyst-space#link#nasa