Spacecraft reenters after failed bid to rescue aging NASA telescope

The robotic spacecraft Link reentered Earth's atmosphere Friday, ending a $30 million NASA-sponsored attempt to rescue the 22-year-old Swift Observatory. Katalyst Space Technologies built Link, billed as America's first commercial space robot with three arms, and launched it 3 July from Kwajalein to capture Swift and raise its orbit. Failures in reaction wheels and a faulty valve disrupted control and communications, leaving too little fuel. Controllers brought Link close to Swift and tested its arms before the rescue was called off in August. Katalyst announced Link's demise after the reentry. NASA's Shawn Domagal-Goldman said: "While we'll be sad to see Swift's mission come to a close, we knew this boost effort would be worthwhile either way." NASA said the work gave useful experience for future satellite-servicing missions. Swift's orbit is still decaying and it is expected to reenter in early November. CONTESTED: none found in record. Next is Swift's expected early-November reentry.