NASA abandons attempt to rescue aging space telescope from atmospheric re-entry
- Posted on August 20, 2026
- By Business News Today
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- 1 min read
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NASA abandons attempt to rescue aging space telescope from atmospheric re-entry
NASA and Katalyst Space Technologies have ended their mission to save the Swift Observatory. Persistent attitude-control failures on the Link servicing vehicle prevented a safe rendezvous. The observatory's trajectory was impacted by heightened solar activity and atmospheric drag. Swift is now on track for an uncontrolled atmospheric re-entry later this year. This outcome highlights risks in commercial in-orbit servicing operations.
