"Time is running out for the venerable NASA observatory. In September, the agency reckoned there was a 50 percent chance of an uncontrolled reentry by mid-2026, increasing to 90 percent by the end of the year. Although the spacecraft was launched in 2004, it remains operational and could continue to capture data on gamma-ray bursts if boosted to a higher orbit."
"NASA awarded Katalyst Space Technologies a $30 million contract to mount a rescue. The plan then was an orbit boost in spring 2026. Swift was never designed to be serviced in space, and the mission will be a first - the first time a commercial robotic spacecraft will capture an uncrewed government satellite."
"While the choice of the Pegasus XL as a launch vehicle might raise an eyebrow or two, given the length of time since its last mission, there is logic in the selection. Swift's orbit has a 20.6° inclination; it is tricky to reach from US launch sites, where most small rockets are limited to inclinations above around 27°. Ghonhee Lee, CEO of Katalyst, said, "Pegasus is the kind of uniquely capable launcher we need for this mission. "It's the only launch vehicle that can meet the orbit, the schedule, and the cost to achieve something unprecedented with emerging technology.""
Katalyst plans to launch its LINK spacecraft on Northrop Grumman's Pegasus XL to boost the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory to a higher orbit. The mission is targeted for June 2026, five years after Pegasus's last flight in 2021. NASA assessed a 50 percent chance of uncontrolled reentry by mid-2026, rising to 90 percent by year-end. Swift, launched in 2004, remains operational and could keep collecting gamma-ray burst data if boosted. NASA awarded Katalyst a $30 million contract. The mission is the first commercial robotic capture of an uncrewed government satellite. Swift's 20.6° inclination favors air-launched Pegasus over many small rockets.
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