Private mission to save NASA's Swift space telescope fails
NASA's mission to save the aging Swift space telescope has failed after the private rescue spacecraft, LINK, experienced attitude control issues. While the capture mission is canceled, the probe will continue to perform proximity demonstrations in orbit.
Why it matters
The failure underscores the technical challenges and risks associated with relying on private sector partnerships for complex orbital maintenance missions.
Missions Private mission to save NASA's Swift space telescope fails News By Josh Dinner Published 19 August 2026 "This is not the outcome we were working toward, but it does not change why this mission was worth attempting."
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Click for next article Artist's illustration of Katalyst Space Technologies' LINK spacecraft meeting up with NASA's Swift space telescope in Earth orbit. (Image credit: NASA) Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter NASA is calling off the effort to save its Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory after a private rescue spacecraft couldn't overcome its own problems in orbit.
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