Katalyst Space Technologies’ three-armed spacecraft, Link, reentered Earth’s atmosphere overnight Friday, ending an ambitious attempt to capture and raise the orbit of the 22-year-old Swift Observatory. The NASA-sponsored mission launched July 3 and cost approximately $30 million.

The rescue effort was designed to prevent Swift from falling back into the atmosphere as its orbit deteriorated faster than expected. Solar activity had increased atmospheric drag on the telescope, prompting NASA to suspend observations earlier this year and reposition Swift in an effort to keep it in orbit long enough for Link to arrive.

The spacecraft encountered problems shortly after launch. Two of Link’s three reaction wheels, which were needed to control its orientation, stopped working because of electronic issues. A faulty valve then sent the spacecraft into a rapid spin and disrupted communications with ground controllers.

Engineers eventually regained control of Link, but the spacecraft had used too much fuel to complete the planned rescue. NASA and Katalyst called off the attempt in August, leaving Link with only enough time for additional tests of its robotic arms.

Despite the failure, flight controllers were able to maneuver Link to within roughly 7 to 9 miles of Swift and capture images of the observatory. The spacecraft’s three robotic arms, each approximately 3 feet long and equipped with hand-like grippers, were also operated in preparation for future satellite-recovery missions.

NASA said the effort provided valuable experience for future missions aimed at servicing or recovering satellites in orbit. The project was assembled in less than a year, requiring engineers to work under a tight deadline before Swift’s declining orbit made a rescue impossible.

Swift, launched in 2004 at a cost of about $364 million, remains operational for now and has resumed scanning the universe. The observatory is designed to rapidly detect gamma-ray bursts, exploding stars and other short-lived cosmic events, allowing other telescopes to study them in greater detail.

NASA expects Swift itself to reenter the atmosphere in early November as its orbit continues to decline. The agency is now considering how to replace the observatory's unique role in detecting and alerting other telescopes to rapidly unfolding events across the universe.