A NASA observatory is likely to reenter the Earth's atmosphere this year after a rescue attempt failed. The Neil Gehrels Swift observatory, which has been in operation for decades, is constantly losing altitude.

A satellite called LINK was launched to elevate the observatory's orbit, but it began experiencing difficulties in late July, just weeks after its July 3 launch. The satellite started spinning out of control, though its operator, Katalyst Space Technologies, was able to regain control.

The issue caused a delay, and further details about the situation are available from the source. The observatory's fate is uncertain, with reentry into the Earth's atmosphere a likely outcome.