The spacecraft designed to aid NASA’s aging telescope has encountered a setback. Katalyst Space Technologies revealed its Link satellite is experiencing thruster malfunctions, causing an uncontrollable spin and disrupting communication efforts.

This problem arose three weeks after the satellite was launched to assist the Swift telescope. Katalyst is working tirelessly to restore Link’s function to ensure it can capture and elevate Swift to a higher orbit. Without intervention, the Swift telescope might crash to Earth this fall. NASA has allocated $30 million for this rescue mission, which was organized in less than a year.

The Swift telescope, operational since 2004, is descending quicker than anticipated due to recent solar activity. It urgently needs repositioning to continue its mission of detecting astronomical explosions, such as gamma-ray bursts and supernovae. Until then, scientific operations are paused.

Katalyst and NASA remain optimistic. The company reports that despite the thruster issues, all other major subsystems are functioning properly. Katalyst expressed confidence in a statement, saying, “The mission remains active and we continue to believe that with these changes, Link has a viable path to rendezvous with Swift.”

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