Engineers race to save stricken LINK rescue spacecraft

The private LINK spacecraft, built by Katalyst Space Technologies, launched July 3 to boost NASA's Swift space telescope to a higher orbit, but began spinning unexpectedly about three weeks later, causing communications issues and failure of two reaction wheels. Teams have reduced the spin from 9 to 1.47 degrees per second using electric propulsion, but more work remains. Swift, lacking thrusters, could reach a point of no return by October if not rescued.