NASA Launches Mission to Rescue Swift Space Telescope

By Priya Anand

NASA has initiated a mission to save the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, which is at risk of re-entering Earth's atmosphere due to orbital decay accelerated by solar activity. The rescue mission, named “Swift Boost,” was launched on July 3, 2026, using Northrop Grumman’s Pegasus XL rocket.

The spacecraft, called Link, was developed by Katalyst Space Technologies under a $30 million contract. It aims to capture the Swift Observatory and raise its orbit by approximately 300 kilometers over several months.

This mission marks the first time a commercial spacecraft attempts to capture an uncrewed U.S. government satellite not designed for servicing. The operation is considered high-risk but more cost-effective than replacing the observatory.

Link is currently in orbit, and engineers are working to confirm the deployment of its solar panels and power systems. If successful, Link will rendezvous with Swift in about a month to begin the orbit-raising process.