A spacecraft designed to save another in orbit has run into its own troubles, raising fears that time may be slipping away. LINK, a private satellite built by Katalyst Space Technologies, was launched on July 3 to tackle a historic task: to reach NASA’s Swift space telescope and raise its orbit before it falls into Earth’s atmosphere. But about three weeks into the mission, unexpected problems emerged. The satellite began rotating at an abnormal speed, leading to a loss of communication and the failure of two of its three orientation wheels. Engineers are now racing against the clock to stabilize LINK and keep its mission alive.
The plan was for LINK to intercept Swift, a decades-old telescope still operating above Earth. Without its own propulsion system, Swift faces an inevitable drop toward the surface, accelerated by atmospheric drag. NASA estimates the point of no return lies at 186 miles (300 kilometers) in altitude — an orbital level Swift is projected to reach by October. Originally, LINK was supposed to arrive at Swift in early August, a timeline that was ambitious but achievable. Now, however, delays are stacking up, and mission teams are working around the clock to correct the issues and keep the mission on course.
Engineers on a Countdown
The most recent progress report from NASA revealed that Katalyst has reduced LINK’s spin from a troubling 9 degrees per second to around 1.47 degrees per second. Engineers accomplished this with a series of controlled burns from one of the satellite’s electric propulsion thrusters. While this is a positive step, it’s only the first part of a larger effort. The next task is to upload updated flight software, which includes new attitude controllers to maintain the spacecraft’s stability under its current conditions. Once this is done, LINK could finally begin aligning with Swift’s orbit.
The new software is expected to be sent to the spacecraft in the next few days. However, the mission is already behind schedule. The launch occurred in mid-July, and the original plan had called for a rendezvous with Swift within a month. Now, with commissioning work delayed and recent technical issues, that timeline has shifted to one of emergency response. According to NASA’s update on August 6, the mission is still active, but the challenges are growing.
Why Save a 20-Year-Old Telescope?
Swift, known officially as the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, has been studying the universe’s most powerful explosions — gamma-ray bursts — since its 2004 launch. The satellite was initially placed at an altitude of 375 miles (600 kilometers), but years of atmospheric drag have pulled it steadily downward. Every orbit, it gets slightly closer to a point where it will either reenter Earth’s atmosphere or be left in an uncontrolled state. While Swift remains fully operational, its descent is accelerating, increasing the risk of an uncontrolled reentry.
The telescope is still a valuable asset for scientific research. Its ability to detect gamma-ray bursts — some of the most energetic events in the universe — makes it a key player in understanding cosmic phenomena. Swift’s continued usefulness is exactly why NASA has invested in a rescue mission. Katalyst met the tight deadline for the mission, preparing LINK for launch and completing initial checks — but now, the company must prove it can handle the crisis.
The next few weeks will determine whether the mission can still succeed. If Katalyst can fully stabilize LINK and guide it toward Swift, there may still be a chance to reboost the telescope to a safer orbit. But if the spacecraft fails to regain control or if delays continue, Swift could become the latest casualty of orbital decay. The stakes are high, and for a satellite with no means of self-rescue, the time remaining is running out.