NASA announced on Aug. 28 that the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory has resumed scientific observations after a prolonged low‑drag configuration. Mission controllers re‑enabled the spacecraft’s X‑ray Telescope (XRT) and Ultraviolet/Optical Telescope (UVOT) on Aug. 26, the first instruments to be powered up since they were shut down in February to reduce atmospheric drag.
Instrument restart and remaining limitations
The third instrument, the Burst Alert Telescope (BAT), remains offline. BAT operations were halted in April to conserve power and allow Swift’s solar panels to be angled for minimal drag. NASA said the team hopes to bring BAT back online within the next few weeks, but no firm timeline was given.
Failed LINK rescue mission
Swift’s return to science follows NASA’s decision to abandon a planned orbital boost using LINK, a robotic servicing spacecraft built by Katalyst Space of Arizona. LINK launched on July 3 aboard a Northrop Grumman Pegasus XL rocket with the goal of rendezvousing with Swift, capturing the observatory, and raising its orbit.
In late July, LINK experienced attitude‑control problems that caused it to spin and disrupted communications. Engineers discovered that two of its three reaction wheels were inoperable and that its cold‑gas thruster system had lost some functionality. Although the team reduced the spin and regained limited attitude control, NASA and Katalyst announced on Aug. 19 that LINK would no longer attempt to capture and boost Swift. Instead, the spacecraft will still rendezvous with Swift to perform proximity operations, providing a technology demonstration for future in‑space servicing missions, but without delivering the orbital boost that would extend Swift’s life.
Swift’s aging mission and future outlook
Launched in 2004, Swift was originally designed for a two‑year mission to study gamma‑ray bursts, the most energetic explosions in the universe. Over 21 years, the observatory has become a “multitool” for astronomers, detecting and rapidly following up on transient events across gamma‑ray, X‑ray, ultraviolet and visible wavelengths, and issuing alerts that enable other facilities to observe the same targets.
Unlike many low‑Earth‑orbit satellites, Swift lacks an onboard propulsion system to counteract atmospheric drag. Increased solar activity has heated and expanded Earth’s upper atmosphere, accelerating Swift’s orbital decay. NASA’s low‑drag operations were intended to keep the spacecraft above roughly 185 miles (300 km) until October. Below that altitude, operations become increasingly difficult and the decay rate speeds up.
With the planned boost now off the table, NASA expects Swift to reach the critical 185‑mile threshold within the next one to two months. Without any further intervention, the observatory is likely to re‑enter Earth’s atmosphere later this year, where it would mostly burn up.
For the remaining time, Swift will continue to scan the cosmos, maximizing scientific return before its inevitable re‑entry. The agency’s statement underscored Swift’s long‑standing contribution to space science, noting that the telescope still provides rapid alerts and multi‑wavelength observations that are essential for coordinated astronomical research.
Norman Pearlstine is the Executive Editor and Co-Founder at News Raise. With over two decades of experience across financial journalism, corporate governance, and market analysis, Norman leads the editorial direction and ensures strict adherence to journalistic accuracy and ethics.
