# NASA ends Swift telescope reboost attempt after LINK control issue

_Published Thursday, August 20, 2026 at 11:18 AM EDT · Science · Developing · Tier 2 — Notable_

NASA has ended its attempt to reboost the Swift space telescope after an undisclosed attitude-control problem with the Katalyst-built LINK spacecraft prevented the planned rendezvous. LINK reached orbit after its July 3 launch and completed communications and checkout work, the report says. NASA had sought to raise Swift's orbit as solar activity increased atmospheric drag. The report says the telescope now faces uncontrolled reentry, which NASA had assessed as increasingly likely by the end of 2026.

## Sources

- [autoevolution](https://www.autoevolution.com/news/worlds-first-rescue-of-a-falling-space-telescope-fails-swift-to-crash-and-burn-by-the-end-of-2026-274447.html)

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Canonical: https://techandbusiness.org/newswire/Yxbh6-e12djApxbx19gOBO
Published: 2026-08-20T15:18:18.133Z
Story chronology: 2026-08-20T13:53:22.000Z
Retrieved: 2026-10-04T19:06:21.076Z
Publisher: Tech & Business (techandbusiness.org)