Person
NASA official who directs the agency's astrophysics division, which oversees missions such as the Swift observatory.
NASA's Swift observatory, in orbit since 2004, will re-enter by year's end after the Katalyst spacecraft sent to boost it developed faults in orbit. NASA now presents the year-long effort as practice for fast commercial satellite servicing.
Reality
Two of three reaction wheels failed on Katalyst's LINK spacecraft, so NASA cancelled the capture-and-boost. What is left, rendezvous and proximity data, is what this industry can actually do.
Perspective Coverage
5 publishersReality
Katalyst's Link spacecraft never got close enough to grab the sinking telescope. Swift now reenters later this year, and on-orbit rescue remains a demonstration, not a planning assumption.
Perspective Coverage
6 publishersReality
PRIMA, a 1.8-metre far-infrared telescope managed by JPL, moves into preliminary design with a project cost ceiling of $1.2 billion that excludes launch, a 2033 launch target and a confirmation review still ahead.
Reality
Katalyst's LINK is trying to save a NASA telescope after tumbling out of control. Northrop Grumman's servicing vehicle reaches its first geostationary customer in about a year.
Reality