NASA and Katalyst attempt to recover spinning LINK servicing spacecraft

NASA confirmed that attitude-control problems caused multi-axis spin and sporadic communication. Two of LINK’s three reaction wheels were inoperable and cold-gas thruster functionality was reduced. The spacecraft remained power-positive; recovery burns using electric propulsion were under way before any safe rendezvous with the Swift Observatory could be considered.

Why it matters: The first commercial attempt to capture and boost a NASA science observatory is now a live case study in fault-tolerant guidance, navigation and control.

Impact: Space-autonomy programmes need degraded-mode simulation, independent safety gates and abortable proximity operations. NASA · Katalyst · one report