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NASA's Bold Mission to Save Swift Observatory from Falling Orbit

KVIA•Friday, July 3, 2026 at 10:38 AM•CNN Newsource

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NASA has initiated a groundbreaking mission to rescue the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, which is at risk of reentering Earth's atmosphere due to atmospheric drag exacerbated by recent solar activity. Launched by Katalyst Space Technologies, the LINK satellite aims to capture the 3,200-pound observatory and elevate its orbit from 185 miles to 370 miles above Earth. This mission is significant as it marks the first attempt to service a NASA spacecraft not originally designed for such operations, potentially paving the way for future space maintenance. The LINK satellite was launched on a Northrop Grumman rocket and will undergo several months of testing before attempting to grapple Swift. Success could extend Swift's mission, which has provided valuable astrophysical data for nearly 22 years.

Key Details: • The LINK satellite was launched on a Northrop Grumman Pegasus XL rocket. • Swift's altitude is currently critical, dipping below 185 miles due to atmospheric drag. • The mission aims to boost Swift's orbit to 370 miles over 2-3 months after capture. • Katalyst Space Technologies has 9 months to complete the mission from the selection date in September.

nasa space-mission swift space-observatory katalyst-space-technologies

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NASAPenn State UniversityShawn Domagal-GoldmanGhonhee LeeKieran WilsonKwajalein AtollMarshall IslandsKatalyst Space Technologies

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