Katalyst LINK spacecraft arrives at NASA Wallops for Swift rescue

NASA’s Neil Gehrels Swift observatory has been losing altitude as heightened solar activity inflates Earth’s upper atmosphere, increasing drag on the 21‑year‑old satellite. To prevent premature re‑entry, the agency contracted Katalyst Space to build the LINK robotic servicing spacecraft, which can capture and boost Swift to a higher, more stable orbit.

On 5 June the LINK spacecraft reached NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. Engineers from Northrop Grumman will install LINK onto a Pegasus XL rocket, which will be mounted under the modified L‑1011 “Stargazer” aircraft. The launch will occur over Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands, delivering LINK to the target orbit where it will rendezvous with Swift and raise its altitude, demonstrating a new satellite‑servicing capability for future missions.