A rescue mission for NASA's aging Swift space telescope has been called off. The mission was attempted by Katalyst Space Technologies' Link spacecraft, which was launched to capture and boost the telescope to a higher orbit. However, problems with controlling the spacecraft led to the cancellation of the mission.

As a result, the telescope is expected to plunge through the atmosphere later this year, ending its over 20-year operation of tracking significant explosions in the universe. NASA had paid $30 million for the rescue attempt, which was prompted by the telescope's rapid loss of altitude due to intense solar activity.

Further details about the mission and its cancellation are available from NASA and Katalyst Space Technologies.