{"id":816455,"date":"2026-08-17T10:14:10","date_gmt":"2026-08-17T10:14:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/816455\/"},"modified":"2026-08-17T10:14:10","modified_gmt":"2026-08-17T10:14:10","slug":"swift-spacecraft-and-a-mission-to-save-it-caught-on-video","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/816455\/","title":{"rendered":"Swift spacecraft, and a mission to save it, caught on video"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Sociedad de Astronom\u00eda del Caribe in A\u00f1asco, Puerto Rico, captured this video at about 8:02\u20138:03 p.m. AST on August 10, 2026. It shows an experimental commercial robotic repair vehicle called LINK, slightly ahead of NASA\u2019s Swift spacecraft<\/a> in low Earth orbit (by about a minute). Both LINK and Swift now appear to have the same (or a similar) trajectory, which is good news. LINK is meant to boost<\/a> Swift to a higher orbit, saving it from falling back into Earth\u2019s atmosphere by the end of 2026.<\/p>\n

The nail-biting Swift spacecraft rescue effort<\/p>\n

The Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory<\/a>, better known as Swift, has been orbiting Earth since 2004. It has been studying the most powerful explosions in the universe: gamma-ray bursts<\/a>. Now, Swift\u2019s orbit is rapidly decaying. That means Swift is slowly falling back to Earth. <\/p>\n

And if nothing stops it, it will burn up in Earth\u2019s atmosphere later this year. If that happens, Swift is expected to put on a spectacular, fiery show. <\/p>\n

But something might save it. In an effort to extend the life of this important science mission, NASA has employed a 2nd spacecraft<\/a> \u2013 a commercial robotic repair vehicle called LINK, built by Katalyst Space<\/a> \u2013 on July 3, 2026. <\/p>\n

So LINK was supposed to chase down Swift, grab it, and raise its orbit. But about three weeks into the mission, two of LINK\u2019s three reaction wheels failed, sending LINK into an uncontrolled spin and causing communication to be intermittent. What will happen now? Is there any good news? As it turns out \u2026 there is.<\/p>\n

The current status of the rescue<\/p>\n

NASA said on August 11<\/a> in its Swift blog<\/a> that a flight software update has now been uploaded to LINK. NASA said:<\/p>\n

The software update\u2019s new attitude control algorithms are designed to maintain LINK\u2019s stability using the spacecraft\u2019s remaining actuators.<\/p>\n

And, in recent days, LINK does appear more stable. Amateur astronomers in Puerto Rico \u2013 with the Sociedad de Astronom\u00eda del Caribe \u2013 captured video of both LINK and Swift in the same (or a similar) orbit around Earth. The video comes from A\u00f1asco, Puerto Rico, at about 8:02\u20138:03 p.m. AST on August 10, 2026. Watch the video at the top of this post. And keep reading to learn more.<\/p>\n

In the meantime, be aware that there\u2019s a real clock ticking here. Swift is gradually losing altitude because of atmospheric drag<\/a>. If it drops below roughly 300 km (186 miles), recovery becomes essentially impossible; NASA expects that point to arrive around October.<\/p>\n

\"SwiftMeet the space-based Swift Observatory<\/a>. Its orbit is decaying; it is falling back to Earth. NASA plans to save it, and boost<\/a> it to a higher orbit, with a rescue mission called LINK. If there\u2019s no intervention, Swift will plunge back to Earth by the fall of 2026. Image via NASA<\/a>.
\nSeeing Swift and LINK in orbit<\/p>\n

Amateur astronomers frequently try to spy faint spacecraft in orbit around Earth, and LINK and Swift are no exceptions. The website Heavens-Above.com<\/a> is designed specifically to enable observers to become aware of satellite passes from their location. <\/p>\n

The Sociedad de Astronomia del Caribe in A\u00f1asco, Puerto Rico, caught both Swift and LINK on video on August 2, 2026. That earlier video showed that Link was about 8 minutes behind the Swift spacecraft.<\/p>\n

But, between August 9 and 10, the club\u2019s cameras showed LINK as slightly ahead of Swift in orbit. That\u2019s what you\u2019ll see if you watch the video above.<\/p>\n

In the Sociedad de Astronomia del Caribe video at the top of this post, the Link rescue spacecraft passes very close to a bright star. The star is Antares<\/a>, brightest light in the constellation Scorpius<\/a> the Scorpion. A minute later, the Swift Observatory is seen also passing by this bright star.<\/p>\n

The video capture was possible by analyzing the trajectory of both spacecraft using various sources including Heavens-Above.com. <\/p>\n

It\u2019s encouraging that LINK and Swift are so close together! And that they seem to be following the same (or a similar) path.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t miss the next unmissable sky event! Subscribe to EarthSky\u2019s free daily newsletter for sky and science news.<\/a><\/p>\n

Can you see LINK and Swift?<\/p>\n

Observers can try to glimpse the decaying Swift Observatory with the eye. It sometimes reaches a visual magnitude around +2.0 to +1.5,<\/a> making it as bright as a moderately bright star. <\/p>\n

It would be especially easy to spot if you were observing far from city lights, once you know where to look.<\/p>\n

The Link rescue spacecraft is fainter and more difficult to see. But some experienced observers have reported seeing it with the unaided eye. <\/p>\n

To spot the Swift Observatory or the LINK rescue vehicle in orbit using the website Heavens-Above.com<\/a>, you need custom visibility predictions for your exact location. \u00a0 <\/p>\n

Here\u2019s how to set your observing location:<\/p>\n

Navigate to the Heavens-Above main site<\/a> or open the Heavens-Above mobile app.
\nClick on Configuration (or the location selector in the upper-right corner).
\nInput your specific city or exact GPS coordinates so that pass times and trajectory angles calculate accurately for your horizon.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s how to find the 2 spacecraft:<\/p>\n

Return to the main database menu and locate the Satellites section.
\nSelect Search database for satellite (or use the Satellite database \/ Search link).
\nQuery for Swift (the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, NORAD ID 28485) or LINK (or Katalyst Space \/ Pegasus XL payload related to the mission).<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s how to generate the pass predictions:<\/p>\n

Open the satellite\u2019s details page and click 10-day predictions for visible passes (or change filters to show \u201cAll passes\u201d if you want daytime\/radio passes). \u00a0
\nReview the pass table for key metrics. These are: start \/ highest \/ end times; altitude aka elevation (look for passes exceeding 30 to 40 degrees<\/a> elevation for clear viewing above trees or buildings); and brightness aka magnitude<\/a> (lower or negative numbers indicate brighter objects, and Swift typically reaches a visual magnitude of around +1.5 to +2.0, making it visible to the unaided eye under dark sky conditions.)<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s how to use the interactive sky charts<\/p>\n

Click on any specific date\/pass row to generate a star chart.
\nThe chart overlays the satellite\u2019s precise trajectory against recognizable constellations and stars (such as Scorpius or Antares), showing you exactly where to aim your eyes, binoculars, or camera equipment.<\/p>\n

This video walk-through shows how to set up your ground coordinates and fetch pass predictions on Heavens-Above: How to Track the ISS with Heavens-Above.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"FiveEngineers from Katalyst Space test the LINK spacecraft that will launch to save Swift. Image via Scott Wiessinger\/ NASA<\/a>.
\nBoost timeline<\/p>\n

Below is a timeline from launch through the boost steps until Swift returns to science operations. NASA has temporarily suspended science operations on Swift until the boosting mission is complete.<\/p>\n

\"GraphicAccording to NASA\u2019s timeline, it will take several months to complete the boost of the Swift spacecraft. This artist\u2019s concept shows Swift at top and LINK below. Image via Katalyst Space\/ NASA\/ Goddard Space Flight Center<\/a>.
\nMore about the Swift spacecraft<\/p>\n

The Swift spacecraft has three telescopes<\/a> that watch the night sky. They are the Burst Alert Telescope, X-Ray Telescope and Ultraviolet\/Optical Telescope.<\/p>\n

The Burst Alert Telescope (BAT) is Swift\u2019s wide-field gamma-ray detector. This telescope continuously monitors a large portion of the sky, watching for sudden flashes of high-energy gamma rays<\/a> from gamma-ray bursts. When it detects a burst, it quickly calculates the object\u2019s position and sends the coordinates to astronomers worldwide. It also directs the Swift spacecraft to rapidly turn toward the event for closer study.<\/p>\n

Once Swift has slewed toward a newly detected gamma-ray burst, the X-Ray Telescope (XRT) takes over. It observes the burst\u2019s fading X-ray afterglow. And it measures how its brightness changes over time and analyzes the energies of the emitted X-rays. Also, the XRT can pinpoint a burst\u2019s location better than BAT and can continue tracking the event for days or even weeks. So the XRT helps scientists understand the physics of these powerful explosions and their environments.<\/p>\n

Finally, the Ultraviolet\/Optical Telescope studies gamma-ray bursts and other cosmic objects in ultraviolet and visible light<\/a>. It provides Swift\u2019s most precise positions for newly discovered bursts. It also captures details about their brightness, color and evolution. Overall, these observations help astronomers determine distances, identify host galaxies and better understand the nature of the explosions and other transient events Swift observes across the universe.<\/p>\n

Bottom line: The Swift space telescope is falling back to Earth. The LINK spacecraft is trying to save it. See both in orbit in a new video.<\/p>\n

Via NASA<\/a><\/p>\n

Read more: What is the Earth\u2019s most distant spacecraft?<\/a><\/p>\n

Read more: Remember when DART struck an asteroid? New surprises!<\/a><\/p>\n

Kelly Kizer Whitt
\n View Articles<\/a><\/p>\n

About the Author:<\/p>\n

Kelly Kizer Whitt writes and edits some of the most fascinating stories at EarthSky.org. She’s been writing about science, with a focus on astronomy, for decades. She began her career at Astronomy Magazine and made regular contributions to other outlets, including AstronomyToday and the Sierra Club. She has nine published books, including a children’s picture book, Solar System Forecast, and a young adult dystopian novel, A Different Sky.<\/p>\n

Deborah Byrd
\n View Articles<\/a><\/p>\n

About the Author:<\/p>\n

Deborah Byrd (asteroid 3505 Byrd) helps edit EarthSky.org and is a frequent host of EarthSky videos. Deborah created the EarthSky radio series in 1991 and founded EarthSky.org in 1994. Prior to that, she had worked for the University of Texas McDonald Observatory since 1976, and created and produced their Star Date radio series. She has won a galaxy of awards from the broadcasting and science communities, including having an asteroid named in her honor in 1990, a Public Service Award from the National Science Board in 2003, and the Education Prize from the American Astronomical Society in 2020. A science communicator and educator since 1976, Byrd believes in science as a force for good in the world and a vital tool for the 21st century. “Being an EarthSky editor is like hosting a big global party for cool nature-lovers,” she says.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Sociedad de Astronom\u00eda del Caribe in A\u00f1asco, Puerto Rico, captured this video at about 8:02\u20138:03 p.m. AST…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":816456,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[48],"tags":[79,193],"class_list":["post-816455","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-space","tag-science","tag-space"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/816455","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=816455"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/816455\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/816456"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=816455"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=816455"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=816455"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}