At around midnight Beijing time on July 29, 2026, NASA and Katalyst announced the latest status of the LINK orbital service spacecraft: during commissioning, it experienced multi-axis rotation with preliminary investigations showing two out of three reaction wheels currently unavailable, along with partial loss of cold gas propulsion or attitude control system functions. LINK remains powered and in communication with the Katalyst team. Katalyst stated that they have used steerable electric thrusters to reduce angular velocity but stabilization has not been completed, and the mission has not entered the capture phase for Swift.
Mission Enters Recovery Phase After Multi-Axis Rotation
NASA summarized the anomaly period as over the past weekend, noting that rotation caused intermittent communication. Katalyst's mission log detailed LINK experiencing multi-axis rotation in the previous 72 hours, during which it once lost communication and subsequently experienced a bus reset. Neither official update disclosed the root cause of the unavailability of reaction wheels, restricted attitude control system functions, communication interruptions, or bus resets, nor did they confirm whether these phenomena stemmed from a single issue.
LINK was originally scheduled to first approach and inspect NASA's Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, capture it after confirming conditions without an on-orbit service interface, and then use electric propulsion to raise its orbit. The attitude control status directly affects the safety of proximity and capture operations. NASA did not announce that the service mission had succeeded or terminated but placed subsequent plans under two conditions: LINK's health status meets requirements, and the approach process can be conducted safely.
Two Reaction Wheels Unavailable; Electric Propulsion Begins Deceleration
The current recovery actions involve using still operational electric thrusters to reduce body angular velocity. NASA expects the team to advance this work over the next few days. Katalyst stated that relevant firings have begun, with observed expected deceleration effects; however, these are interim results reported by the company and do not equate to LINK having regained stable attitude. Neither agency has disclosed a fixed stabilization date, remaining firing counts, specific scope of cold gas propulsion function loss, or reaction wheel recovery plans, leaving related technical details blank.
New Control Scheme Validation Precedes Proximity Capture
If the spacecraft regains stable attitude and completes status investigation, Katalyst plans to modify guidance, navigation, and control schemes based on existing hardware configuration and validate these through end-to-end simulations and ground tests. Only then will they attempt maneuvers to an orbit co-elliptical with Swift for satellite inspection and other rendezvous and proximity operations. Capture remains a conditional step, dependent on the spacecraft's health status and safety assessment at that time.
LINK was launched from Kwajalein Atoll in the Republic of the Marshall Islands via Pegasus XL rocket on July 3rd. NASA reported on July 15th that the team had addressed an early issue involving one of three reaction wheels, restoring reliable communication and stable attitude through flight software patches and operational updates; at that time, LINK was about halfway through commissioning. The update on July 28th changed to report two unavailable reaction wheels; public records do not confirm whether these statuses have a common cause.
$30 Million Mission Awaits Critical Outcomes
NASA awarded Katalyst $30 million in September 2025 through the Small Business Innovation Research Program Phase III to attempt Swift's orbit raise, with an objective cycle from concept to implementation of less than a year. Launched in 2004, Swift itself lacks orbital maintenance propulsion; NASA noted that recent solar activity has intensified atmospheric drag, causing its orbit to decay faster than expected. NASA describes this attempt as a more economical solution compared to replacing Swift's capabilities. At the time of collection, Katalyst’s dynamic mission page showed LINK and Swift at approximate heights of about 512 km and 302 km respectively; these values vary with orbital motion.
Katalyst stated in its July 28th update that the mission is ongoing and believes there remains a feasible path to rendezvous with Swift after adjustments; this is the company's assessment. NASA’s statement was more cautious, requiring first stabilization, investigation of spacecraft status, then reassessment based on safety and health conditions. The root cause, fixed recovery date, new rendezvous or capture dates, success probability, and ultimate impact on Swift's scientific lifespan have not been disclosed; the next verifiable progress is whether rotation has stopped and if the new control scheme can be validated.