Katalyst Space has delayed its planned rescue of NASA’s Swift observatory until late August after its LINK spacecraft began spinning during commissioning. Engineers have reduced LINK’s rotation but must restore enough control and core functionality before it can approach, inspect and grapple Swift, making the mission’s success increasingly time-sensitive.

LINK’s spin rate has been cut from 9 to about 4 degrees per second using thrusters, while two of its three reaction wheels are reportedly inoperable. Swift’s orbit is decaying and it may fall below 300km around November, after which a reboost becomes harder; a successful mission could extend the observatory’s life by years.