New York Times
• Kenneth Chang
NASA and Katalyst Space Technologies have canceled an attempt to capture and raise the orbit of the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory after the commercial LINK spacecraft developed persistent attitude-control problems. Swift is now expected to reenter Earth’s atmosphere and disintegrate later this year, ending the rescue effort.
Satellite
Latest source-backed stories
High activity
NASA and Katalyst Space Technologies have canceled an attempt to capture and raise the orbit of the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory after the commercial LINK spacecraft developed persistent attitude-control problems. Swift is now expected to reenter Earth’s atmosphere and disintegrate later this year, ending the rescue effort.
NASA has abandoned an effort to save a failing space telescope, leaving the spacecraft destined to reenter and burn up in Earth’s atmosphere. The decision marks the end of recovery efforts for a space-based observatory, though the available reporting does not identify the telescope or explain the failure.
High activity
NASA and Katalyst Space have called off an experimental servicing mission intended to boost the aging Swift gamma-ray observatory into a higher orbit. Technical problems on the recently launched rescue spacecraft prevented the attempt, and Swift is now expected to reenter the atmosphere later this year without intervention.
As wildfires spread across Europe during another hot summer, satellites are providing earlier fire detection and detailed imagery of affected areas. The data can help authorities identify outbreaks sooner, assess damage more quickly and coordinate responses across large or difficult-to-access regions.
Moog is expanding its METEORITE ESPA-class satellite bus with a high-delta-v configuration designed to provide greater mission flexibility, enhanced maneuverability and higher thrust. The new configuration is intended for targeted missions requiring more substantial orbital maneuvering capability from a compact satellite platform.
Europe is emerging as a laggard in the global effort to move data centers into orbit, trailing the United States and China. The competitive gap highlights a developing strategic contest over space-based computing infrastructure and the technologies needed to support it.
America’s space economy is growing faster than the industrial base needed to support it, making supply chain resilience the industry’s next major challenge. The mismatch places manufacturing capacity, supplier depth and production scalability at the center of continued expansion across the sector.
Intuitive Machines’ $853.3 million acquisition of Maxar Space Systems remains unproven, but a three-satellite order and potential orbital data-center applications strengthen the strategic rationale. The transaction gives Intuitive Machines exposure to large-satellite manufacturing while adding possible growth beyond its existing space businesses.
Create a free account to see more recent Satellite stories and keep bookmarks in one place.
