Rescue satellite gets close to NASA's doomed telescope, even if it can't save it

A private spacecraft that was supposed to provide a lifeline to NASA’s Swift Observatory managed to get close to the sinking telescope and even snap photos two weeks after the rescue was abandoned. But the three-armed robotic salvager had to turn away because it was low on fuel, according to Katalyst Space Technologies, which attempted the daring operation. “We got so close, but so far,” Katalyst Chief Executive Ghonhee Lee told the Associated Press last week. Katalyst’s Link spacecraft got within nine miles of Swift on Tuesday, using its sensors to gather data on the doomed telescope for NASA. The rescue effort had already been called off in August because of Link’s own troubles in orbit, but the company wanted the practice for future satellite-servicing missions. Link went into an uncontrollable spin soon after rocketing to Swift’s rescue in July.