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NASA abandons Swift orbital reboost after LINK reaction wheel failures
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NASA and Katalyst Space have dropped plans for LINK to grapple and reboost the Swift observatory after two of LINK's three reaction wheels failed post-launch, though LINK will still attempt a rendezvous to gather data for future servicing missions.
The failure ends a high-profile attempt to extend a satellite's life through on-orbit servicing, a capability with broad implications for the industry. Swift is now expected to re-enter Earth's atmosphere later this year. The continued rendezvous could still yield data valuable for future servicing attempts.
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Two of LINK's three reaction wheels were declared inoperable after the spacecraft entered a spin shortly after launch.
The planned grapple and reboost of Swift is abandoned; a rendezvous for data gathering will still be attempted.
Swift, launched in 2004, is expected to re-enter later this year due to orbital decay accelerated by increased solar activity.
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