NASA restarts Swift observatory after failed rescue mission

The Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory satellite, now orbiting at 340 kilometers, was re-commanded to resume observations after a July rescue attempt by the unmanned Link spacecraft failed due to malfunctioning attitude control wheels.

Theo Anand

Science and Earth

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NASA has reinstated commands to restart the observation instruments on the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory satellite, following a failed rescue mission in July 2026.^[2] The unmanned spacecraft named Link was unable to complete its mission because two of its attitude control wheels malfunctioned.^[1]