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Swift Observatory

All articles tagged with #swift observatory

space1 day ago•164 min saved

Swift Telescope Set for Uncontrolled Reentry After Failed Rescue

NASA’s Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, launched in 2004 to study gamma-ray bursts, is expected to reenter Earth in an uncontrolled descent after a private rescue mission (LINK) failed to rendezvous. Timing is uncertain, with officials saying reentry likely won’t happen before October, and most of the spacecraft is expected to burn up, though some components could survive and reach the ground. Swift’s ~613 kg dry mass and 21-degree orbital inclination mean debris could land anywhere from 21°N to 21°S, most likely in the sea; ground casualties are considered unlikely. NASA will share updates as reentry approaches.)

via Space|

#nasa #orbital-debris #space

technology3 days ago•3 min saved

Rescue Mission for Swift Satellite Fails, But Sparks Lessons for Future Space Tugs

NASA and Katalyst Space Technologies attempted to rescue NASA's Swift gamma-ray burst satellite by using Link to grab and boost it back into orbit, but Link spiraled out of control and ran low on xenon fuel, forcing the mission to abort. Link will instead conduct proximity maneuvers near Swift to test salvage techniques for future operations. Swift is expected to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere later this year with minimal risk to people on the ground. While unsuccessful, the mission yielded valuable lessons for future space-rescue efforts.

via Jalopnik|

#nasa #rescue #satellite

science-space4 days ago•203 min saved

Rescue attempt for NASA's Swift observatory ends in failure

NASA's Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, in orbit for nearly 22 years, is steadily losing altitude and is expected to reenter Earth's atmosphere later this year. A companion LINK satellite launched to boost Swift could not complete the rescue due to ongoing attitude-control issues, delaying rendezvous and preventing a higher orbit, with NASA and its partner reframing the mission as a demonstration for future in-space servicing while other observatories fill the observational gap.

via CNN|

#link-satellite #nasa #reentry

technology5 days ago•10 min saved

Swift bust, Oura Ring suit, Windows RGB hiccups, and ASCII CITY prototype

Hackaday’s links for August 23, 2026 cover four tech notes: NASA’s Swift Observatory mission suffers a setback as the LINK spacecraft can’t safely dock, leading to an expected reentry; TechCrunch reports a class-action against Oura Ring over sleep-stage claims, with Oura defending its methodology; Microsoft investigates Windows August updates that disrupt certain games due to the inpoutx64 component, offering registry workarounds; and ASCII CITY releases a playable prototype of a single-file HTML‑5 3D cyberpunk city.

via Hackaday|

#ascii-city #nasa #oura-ring

science9 days ago•2 min saved

Flagstaff Rescue Fails: Swift Observatory Headed for Fiery Reentry

Flagstaff-based Katalyst Space Technologies canceled its Link rescue mission for NASA’s Swift Observatory after Link could not be controlled to capture or boost the telescope; Swift will reenter the atmosphere later this year, with NASA not expecting the demise before October. NASA paid about $30 million for the attempt, and Katalyst will continue to operate Link nearby to demonstrate proximity operations for future rescues. Had the mission succeeded, Hubble could have been next, but its status remains unclear.

via AZ Family|

#nasa #orbital-rescue #science

space9 days ago•2 min saved

NASA Halts Swift Rescue Mission as Observatory Nears Re-entry

NASA canceled the plan to boost the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory to a higher orbit after LINK’s attitude-control issues; the telescope is expected to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere later this year. LINK will still rendezvous with Swift to gather data, but the mission will not rescue or extend Swift’s life. NASA will pursue alternative options to react rapidly to cosmic events and learn from the rendezvous attempt for future satellite-servicing missions.

via Engadget|

#link-spacecraft #nasa #orbital-decay

science9 days ago•5 min saved

Rescue mission for Swift gamma-ray telescope canceled as reentry looms

NASA and Katalyst have canceled the Link rescue mission intended to reach and boost the Swift gamma-ray observatory into a higher orbit. Ongoing attitude-control issues—two reaction wheels failed and thrusters struggled—prevented Link from completing the rendezvous. Without the rescue, Swift is expected to reenter Earth's atmosphere later this year, though the teams will continue to extract technical value and demonstrate aspects of proximity operations that could inform future servicing missions.

via Ars Technica|

#nasa #reentry #satellite-servicing

space10 days ago•23 min saved

Salvage bid for NASA's Swift telescope canceled

A private consortium's plan to rescue NASA's Swift space telescope has been canceled, ending the salvage effort after preparations for thermal vacuum testing at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center.

via AP News|

#cancellation #nasa #private-spaceflight

space17 days ago•2 min saved

Software patch steadies LINK as it closes in on NASA's Swift

LINK's two failed reaction wheels caused a tumble during its mission to rescue NASA's Swift Observatory. Engineers uploaded a flight software update to stabilize LINK's attitude control and enable the planned burns to raise Swift's orbit, extending the observatory's life. Swift, launched in 2004, currently sits about 216 miles up and faces a roughly 50% chance of uncontrolled reentry by mid-2026.

via gizmodo.com|

#attitude-control #link-spacecraft #nasa

technology19 days ago•14 min saved

Katalyst Space edges toward Swift boost after attitude-control recovery

Katalyst Space Technologies reports progress in stabilizing its Link servicing spacecraft after a post-launch spin problem, slowing rotation from about 9 degrees per second to 1.47 deg/s with a thruster and conserving propellant, with a major flight software update planned to regain attitude control and set up a grapple with NASA’s Swift Observatory to raise its decaying orbit before Swift deorbits later this year.

via SpaceNews|

#attitude-control #katalyst-space-technologies #link-spacecraft

space21 days ago•203 min saved

Swift Rescue Mission Faces Setbacks as LINK Aims to Reboost Observatory

NASA and its partner Katalyst Space Technologies are attempting to save the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory by sending LINK, a dedicated rescue satellite, to grapple and boost the observatory back to its original orbit. After early spin and communications hiccups, LINK’s spin has been reduced to about 1.5 degrees per second and a flight software update is planned to enable grapple maneuvers and a multi-month ion-thruster boost. Swift is at risk of reentering the atmosphere this fall if not raised, so the mission remains risky and time-sensitive.

via CNN|

#nasa #orbital-mechanics #satellite

space22 days ago•203 min saved

Swift Observatory Rescue Scrambles as LINK Faces Spin Crisis

A NASA-led effort to save the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory from orbital decay hit setbacks after the privately built LINK spacecraft spun out of control following its July launch. LINK’s spin has been slowed and stabilized, but a grappling rendezvous with Swift and a two-to-three month orbit-boost plan face delays. While mission teams reassess and patch software, the rescue’s timing remains uncertain, though there is still hope the observatory can resume science operations if the boost succeeds.

via cnn.com|

#katalyst-space-technologies #link-satellite #nasa

sciencespace22 days ago•5 min saved

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

space28 days ago•108 min saved

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

technology28 days ago•6 min saved

NASA rescue craft spirals out of control, risking Swift Observatory

NASA's LINK servicing spacecraft, sent to boost the Swift Observatory, is spinning out of control after two of its three reaction wheels failed and its cold-gas thrusters misbehaved, disrupting communications. Engineers are working to stabilize and rendezvous with Swift, but if the mission fails, the observatory's orbit could decay, wiping out months of scientific data.

via Boing Boing|

#nasa #reaction-wheels #satellite-servicing