NASA launches robotic rescue mission to save Swift space telescope

The Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, launched in 2004 to detect gamma‑ray bursts, has lost altitude from its original 600 km to about 370 km due to increased atmospheric drag caused by heightened solar activity. Without intervention, the satellite could re‑enter the atmosphere later this year.

NASA plans to launch a robotic spacecraft called LINK, built by Katalyst Space Technologies, on a Pegasus XL rocket on 27 June. LINK will rendezvous with Swift, attach using robotic arms, and gradually raise its orbit to around 600 km, extending the telescope’s operational life by roughly five years. Mission officials acknowledge the technical challenges, noting that “no one thought this would be possible,” and stressing the race against further solar‑driven decay.

If successful, the rescue will preserve a unique scientific instrument that has recorded over 2,000 gamma‑ray bursts and contributed to discoveries about the origin of heavy elements such as gold and platinum.