A spacecraft sent by NASA to extend the life of the aging Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory encountered a significant technical problem on Saturday, jeopardizing the mission to boost the telescope’s orbit. The small rescue vehicle, named Link and developed by Katalyst Space Technologies in Flagstaff, Arizona, began tumbling uncontrollably while approaching the observatory, rotating once every 40 seconds.

The Swift Observatory, launched in 2004 to monitor gamma-ray bursts, has exceeded its original operational lifespan. Its orbit, currently around 200 miles above Earth, is gradually decaying due to increased atmospheric drag caused by heightened solar activity linked to the sun’s 11-year cycle. The stronger solar flares have expanded the Earth’s upper atmosphere, intensifying drag on satellites and prompting NASA to seek urgent solutions to preserve Swift.

Katalyst, a small company awarded the contract for a rapid, cost-effective mission, designed and built Link within nine months. Though the effort carries considerable risks due to the compressed timeline and absence of the extensive testing typical of NASA missions, the agency and Katalyst remained optimistic about success. NASA’s astrophysics division director, Shawn Domagal-Goldman, emphasized that despite the unusual challenge, the attempt was worthwhile.

Following the unexpected tumbling during a communication blackout lasting nearly 24 hours—far longer than the typical 30 to 60 minutes for this mission—engineers discovered several malfunctions. Two of Link’s three reaction wheels, which help orient the spacecraft, had failed, and its gas thrusters were operating inconsistently. The spacecraft also rebooted its electrical system during the blackout, a process not designed to safely shut down the reaction wheels, likely contributing to the problems.

Despite these issues, the spacecraft’s main electric propulsion system remains fully functional. These thrusters, which accelerate charged xenon atoms and can be swivelled to apply precise thrust, are now being used to counteract the spin. Other systems including communications equipment and the three robotic arms intended to capture Swift appear undamaged.

Engineers are working to reduce Link’s spin and hope to fully restore functionality to the reaction wheels and thrusters. If these efforts fail, the electric propulsion system may serve as a viable substitute to complete the mission. The delay is expected to push back Link’s rendezvous with Swift by approximately two weeks, moving the operation to late August.

Currently, Swift is losing about 1.5 miles of altitude weekly, a rate that is accelerating as it encounters denser atmospheric layers. If its orbit drops below 185 miles, a rescue attempt would become significantly more difficult. NASA and Katalyst continue to evaluate revised approaches and are cautiously optimistic that the mission can still succeed before Swift’s orbit deteriorates beyond recovery.