NASA advances autonomous robot rescue for Swift telescope and tests cryocoupler refueling tech

NASA is preparing a $30 million rescue mission for the Swift gamma‑ray observatory, which has descended to roughly 360 km altitude because increased solar activity has expanded Earth’s atmosphere and raised drag. The mission will launch an autonomous, three‑armed robot called Lift, built by Katalyst Space Technologies, from a Pegasus carrier over the Marshall Islands. Lift is expected to rendezvous with Swift within a month, grasp the satellite, and lift it to a stable 600 km orbit, averting a projected loss of the observatory by October 2026.

In parallel, NASA is testing a "cryocoupler" developed by L3Harris. The device functions as a cold‑temperature valve that can automatically transfer cryogenic propellants from future orbital fuel stations to spacecraft, even when docking is imperfect. Tests focus on operation at –196 °C and reliable sealing, steps toward establishing space‑based refueling infrastructure for deep‑space missions.