NASA launches rescue mission to save Swift space telescope

NASA announced a collaborative effort with Katalyst Space and Northrop Grumman to rescue the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, a satellite launched in 2004 that studies gamma‑ray bursts, stellar explosions and other high‑energy phenomena. Accelerated orbital decay caused by increased solar activity has lowered Swift’s altitude, threatening premature re‑entry.

The plan, detailed in a June 17 teleconference, calls for the robotic spacecraft LINK—equipped with eight rendez‑vous sensors, complex algorithms and three robotic arms—to be launched on a Pegasus XL rocket carried beneath a L‑1011 Stargazer aircraft. LINK will approach Swift, attach to it, and, over two to three months, raise the telescope back to a stable orbit, extending its operational life for years to come.

If successful, the mission would demonstrate a new capability for on‑orbit servicing of scientific satellites, potentially shaping future satellite maintenance strategies.