Katalyst’s LINK spacecraft has regained stability after a control problem caused it to tumble in orbit, raising hopes that it can still rescue NASA’s Swift telescope. The US company announced on 11 August that it had uploaded a flight software update to restore control. Engineers are now assessing the craft’s performance step by step. LINK launched on 3 July from an aircraft and was built in under a year to meet an urgent NASA request. Its sole mission is to raise the orbit of the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory. The $500 million telescope, launched in 2004, observes gamma-ray bursts and other brief cosmic events. It can quickly shift targets, a capability unmatched by other instruments. Atmospheric drag has lowered its altitude from 600 km to below 350 km. In September 2025 NASA awarded Katalyst a $30 million contract to lift the telescope back to 600 km. In late July LINK began tumbling once every 40 seconds. Over two weeks, thrusters and reaction wheels brought the spin under control. The company will now conduct burns to adjust LINK’s path relative to Swift. No new date for the docking attempt has been set. Swift has flown in a low-drag “superman” attitude since February, preserving altitude but halting observations. If the telescope drops to 300 km, drag will likely prevent any rescue. LINK carries three robotic arms to grasp Swift and will use its thrusters to raise the orbit over roughly three months. NASA officials noted the tight schedule but said the effort was worthwhile. Without success, the telescope is expected to re-enter the atmosphere by Christmas or by Easter 2027 at the latest.
