The spacecraft LINK, sent to save the failing Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory now needs saving itself.

On Wednesday, August 19, NASA and Katalyst Space decided to change the objective of the LINK spacecraft due to its malfunction. According to NASA, “LINK spacecraft will not capture or boost an agency satellite to a higher altitude to extend its science mission as planned. However, LINK still will attempt to conduct rendezvous and proximity operations.”

This sudden change is due to the anomalous behavior of the spacecraft. On Tuesday, July 28, the Katalyst team discovered that “over the last 72 hours, the LINK spacecraft has been in a multi-axis spin, causing a temporary loss of communications.” This is a serious problem because LINK needs precise movements to approach the frail and already aging Swift Observatory. The spin makes it difficult for the spacecraft to maintain its position. Since the LINK mission was created in haste, it didn’t go through the standard procedures NASA missions usually receive.

The Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory launched in 2004. Its primary purpose is to observe gamma-ray bursts.. The telescope has outlived its intended lifespan. In late 2024, the Swift Observatory started to tumble back down to Earth. The designers never imagined that the telescope would need a boost.

The Swift Observatory started to fall because of solar flares. According to a New York Times article written by Kenneth Chang, “The peak of the sun’s 11-year sunspot cycle at the end of 2024 turned out to be stronger than expected. A more active sun shoots out more solar flares that warm the Earth’s upper atmosphere.” This caused the atmosphere to puff out and increase its drag. In the case of the Swift Observatory, it has a shallow orbital inclination, causing it to start tumbling down to Earth from the puffed out atmosphere.

The Swift Observatory is now in its final stages. NASA hopes that they can gain as much research on high cosmic explosions before it descends too far and incinerate fully.

SOURCES

NASA Updates Next Steps for Commercial Swift Boost Mission

https://www.katalystspace.com/mission/link