NASA and Katalyst Abandon Swift Observatory Reboost Mission; Satellite to Burn Up This Year

NASA and Katalyst Space have scrapped plans for the Link spacecraft to capture and reboost the Swift Observatory after an unresolved attitude control problem made the servicing maneuver impossible. Swift, launched in 2004 to study gamma-ray bursts, will re-enter Earth's atmosphere and burn up later this year. Katalyst's $30 million contract launched Link on July 3rd; attitude control issues began by month's end.