A private effort aimed at helping NASA’s aging Swift Observatory has hit an unexpected setback. Katalyst Space Technologies said its Link satellite, which was headed to assist the telescope, is dealing with thruster problems.
According to the company, the malfunction sent the spacecraft into an uncontrollable spin. That motion is also interfering with communications, creating new uncertainty for a mission that was supposed to support the orbiting observatory.
The trouble is significant because Link was launched to aid Swift, a long-serving NASA telescope described as aging and sinking in orbit. Instead of stabilizing the situation around the observatory, the rescue mission is now facing its own technical emergency.
The development adds another layer of risk for the private space project and raises questions about the next steps for both Link and the Swift Observatory. For now, the focus is on the satellite’s thruster issue, its spinning condition and whether reliable contact can be restored.
