The robot NASA hired to lift a orbital telescope is tumbling out of control

Aviation Week reported that the Katalyst LINK system suffered an attitude‑control issue, describing a loss of stability that prevented the robot from maintaining its intended orientation. Ars Technica traced the malfunction to reaction‑wheel failures, noting that the failed components left the rescue vehicle spinning uncontrollably in orbit.

Coverage does not yet specify how engineers plan to correct the attitude‑control deficit, nor when the robot will regain stable orientation, leaving the schedule for Swift’s retrieval ambiguous. The lack of a concrete timeline suggests that any delay could postpone the telescope’s refurbishment and return to service, potentially extending the period during which the scientific community operates without Swift’s unique capabilities.