Katalyst satellite spins out of control during NASA Swift rescue

On July 25, 2026, a refrigerator-size satellite named Link spun out of control more than 200 miles above Earth while attempting to rescue NASA’s Swift gamma-ray observatory. By August 1, Katalyst Space Technologies had cut the spacecraft’s spin from 9 degrees per second to 4 degrees per second using its electric thrusters.

Katalyst, a startup, won a $30 million NASA contract to boost Swift’s orbit before the observatory burns up in the atmosphere. The mission marks the first time NASA has contracted with a commercial firm to service one of its satellites.

The tumbling left Link rotating on multiple axes, unable to maintain reliable communications, and two of its three reaction wheels stopped working.

Engineers relied on the satellite’s xenon-fueled electric thrusters, which can vector thrust with a two-axis gimbal, to counteract the rotation.

The ground team, working from a control center near Denver, plans to uplink a new algorithm that will restore three-axis control using the one functioning reaction wheel and the thrusters.

CEO Ghonhee Lee said other systems, including power and the rendezvous hardware, remain healthy.

Two onboard cameras will inspect for damage after stabilization, he added.

Engineers suspect an internal fault or a collision with space junk may have triggered the anomaly.

After more than 24 hours without contact, Link’s fault protection system triggered a reset on July 26, but the ungraceful shutdown caused a thermal spike that damaged reaction wheel electronics.

A separate issue affected cold gas thrusters, Lee said, though data is still being analyzed.

Katalyst still aims to approach Swift around the end of August, and Lee stated that an attempted capture is “very much in the cards.”