NASA announced on August 19, 2026, that it has canceled a mission aimed at rescuing its aging Swift telescope, which is expected to reenter Earth's atmosphere later this year. The decision was made due to difficulties in controlling the altitude of the LINK spacecraft, which was launched in partnership with Katalyst Space Technologies to boost Swift's orbit after solar activity caused it to descend toward Earth.
Despite the cancellation, NASA stated that LINK will still attempt to rendezvous with the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory to test its readiness for future operations. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman noted that while the outcome was not as intended, the mission was still valuable for advancing satellite servicing capabilities.
Swift, launched in 2004, was designed for a two-year mission but has operated for over 21 years. NASA had awarded Katalyst a $30 million contract in September 2025 to develop the robotic servicing mission. As part of its end-of-life planning, NASA will continue to seek ways to respond to cosmic events while utilizing current missions to compensate for Swift's eventual loss.