Katalyst’s Link spacecraft reentered the atmosphere Friday, less than three months after launch, ending a $30 million NASA-sponsored effort to boost the Swift Observatory into a higher orbit. The rescue was called off in August after technical failures.
Launched July 3, Link suffered electronic problems that disabled two of its three reaction wheels; a faulty valve later sent it spinning and disrupted communications. Engineers regained control, but the spacecraft lacked enough fuel for the rescue. Before reentry, controllers practiced its robotic arms and brought it within 7–9 miles (12–15 kilometers) of Swift to take pictures.
Swift’s orbit is still sinking, and it is expected to reenter in early November. The observatory has resumed scanning, with about a month left; its observations of gamma-ray bursts, exploding stars and other fast cosmic events alert other telescopes. NASA is working out how to fill that role.
