NASA's telescope rescue mission faces crisis in orbit

This was the first time NASA hired a private company for such a task

Jul 29, 2026

03:08 pm

What's the storyA Katalyst Space robot, hired by NASA to raise an orbital telescope, has gone out of control. The mission was the first time the space agency hired a private company for such a task.

The Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, launched in 2004, needs to be pushed back up to a higher orbit after being pulled back toward Earth. This is critical for it to continue its operations beyond its expected lifespan.