No lift for Swift as NASA abandons orbital rescue
LINK will attempt a rendezvous, but its failed reaction wheels rule out grabbing and boosting the observatory
NASA and Katalyst Space have abandoned an ambitious attempt to boost the Swift observatory into a higher orbit and postpone its fiery return to Earth.
Katalyst Space's LINK spacecraft will still attempt to rendezvous with and maneuver near Swift, but plans to grapple the observatory and raise its orbit are dead.
The problem, according to NASA and Katalyst Space, is an "ongoing commercial spacecraft attitude control issue." Shortly after launch, LINK entered a spin, and two of the three reaction wheels used to control its orientation were declared inoperable.
Engineers regained control using the spacecraft's electric thrusters and transmitted a software update reflecting its diminished capabilities. The work kept LINK operational, but could not make the planned reboost safe.
NASA and Katalyst Space have put a brave face on this. The space...
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