NASA Ends Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory Mission

NASA announced the end of the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory mission on October 23, 2026. Katalyst Space Technologies’ LINK spacecraft could not capture Swift or raise its orbit, ending the effort to extend the observatory’s operations.

Key details

• Swift launched in November 2004 with a planned two-year mission.
• NASA awarded Katalyst Space Technologies a $30 million contract in September 2025 for the servicing effort.
• LINK approached Swift and photographed it from about 12–15 kilometers away.
• Swift collected its final science data on October 20, 2026.
• NASA expected Swift to reenter Earth’s atmosphere within a few weeks of the October 23 announcement.

Why it matters

Swift operated for more than two decades, far beyond its planned two-year mission. The attempt also brought LINK close enough to photograph the observatory, documenting a spacecraft-servicing operation in orbit.

What happens next

Swift’s mission closes after more than two decades of observations, while spacecraft-servicing efforts continue to build experience with work in orbit. What future missions could benefit from satellite servicing?