For twenty-one years, Swift has been circling the Earth, catching gamma-ray bursts and X-ray signals from distant supernovae, and now, as its orbit is already decaying, two of its three telescopes have been turned back on and have begun collecting data. This is not a triumphant return, but rather a stubborn attempt to squeeze the last weeks out of a spacecraft that was not designed for eternal life and had no engines of its own to correct its altitude.
In February and April, the instruments were turned off to reduce atmospheric drag and extend the time until the critical altitude of 300 kilometers. The commercial spacecraft LINK from Katalyst Space was supposed to capture the observatory and raise it, but problems with the satellite's orientation forced NASA and the partner to abandon the tow. Instead, LINK will now only perform a close approach and rendezvous technology demonstration — a useful but far from complete result for the satellite servicing industry.
The resumption of the ultraviolet-optical and X-ray telescopes on 26 August showed that even in conditions of inevitable deorbit, science can continue. The third instrument, the Burst Alert Telescope, is planned to be brought back into operation in the coming weeks. Each new image, like the snapshot of the Tycho supernova remnant, becomes not just data, but a reminder of how valuable even short additional observations are for coordination with ground-based and other space observatories.
The story of Swift illustrates a typical dilemma of modern spaceflight: old spacecraft without propulsion depend on atmospheric braking, and commercial rescue attempts carry risks that are difficult to fully calculate in a year of development. Solar activity accelerated the descent, and without intervention the mission would have ended earlier. The contract with Katalyst for 30 million dollars allowed a quick proof of concept, even if the main plan failed.
For future on-orbit servicing missions, this experience provides practical lessons: how to quickly develop and launch service vehicles, which sensors and rendezvous algorithms work in real conditions, and how important it is to maintain flexibility in plans. NASA has already stated that it will extract maximum benefit from the rendezvous attempt to apply the knowledge in future projects.
Swift is expected to deorbit by the end of 2026 year, and most of the spacecraft will burn up in the atmosphere. Until then, the team will continue observations as long as altitude and power allow. Such episodes show that even partial success of a commercial partnership can extend scientific output and accelerate the development of technologies that will one day allow satellites to be repaired and moved without risking the entire mission.
