NASA's Last-Minute Plan to Rescue a Falling Space Telescope (xataka.com)

• Swift telescope faces 50% reentry risk by June 2026, 90% by 2027.
• NASA funds Katalyst $30M to develop LINK spacecraft for capture mission.
• LINK will launch from an aircraft due to lack of suitable ground platforms.

"NASA's Neil Gehrels Swift telescope, launched in 2004, is at risk of falling to Earth due to atmospheric drag and solar activity. With a 50% chance of reentry by June 2026, NASA has awarded $30M to Katalyst to build a robotic spacecraft called LINK to capture and boost the telescope to a safer orbit. The mission would be a first in space rescue history."