NASA launches Swift Observatory boost mission to raise satellite orbit

NASA is preparing a mission to lift its Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory to a higher, safer orbit. A robotic servicing satellite named LINK, built by Katalyst Space, will be launched aboard a Northrop Grumman Pegasus XL rocket from Kwajalein Atoll in the Republic of the Marshall Islands on June 30. Once in space, LINK will rendezvous with Swift, grapple the telescope, and use ion thrusters and robotic arms to slowly raise Swift’s altitude, preventing the satellite from re‑entering Earth’s atmosphere later this year.

Swift, launched in November 2004, is a key observatory for detecting gamma‑ray bursts and other high‑energy astronomical events. Atmospheric drag, increased by recent solar activity, has lowered its orbit to a point where re‑entry is likely by the end of 2026 without intervention. The mission demonstrates commercial on‑orbit servicing for spacecraft that were not originally designed for it, providing a blueprint for future satellite maintenance, repositioning, and refuelling.

The project involves NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Katalyst Space, and Northrop Grumman. Successful completion is expected to extend Swift’s operational life for several more years, allowing it to continue its multi‑wavelength observations of transient cosmic phenomena.