en.Wedoany.com Reported - NASA will launch Katalyst Space's LINK robotic servicing spacecraft later this month using Northrop Grumman's Pegasus XL rocket from the Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands, to boost the orbit of the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, extending its scientific mission lifespan and advancing a key capability for future space exploration.
At 11 a.m. EDT on Wednesday, June 17, NASA will hold an audio-only media teleconference to preview the Katalyst Space mission. Media must register by email to Amy Barra (amy.l.barra@nasa.gov) two hours before the teleconference begins. The teleconference audio will be streamed on NASA's website (https://www.nasa.gov/live).
Participants include: Shawn Domagal-Goldman, Director of the Astrophysics Division, NASA Headquarters (Washington); Brad Cenko, Swift Principal Investigator, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (Greenbelt, Maryland); Kieran Wilson, LINK Principal Investigator, Katalyst Space; Robert Lamontagne, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships, Katalyst Space; Wes Collier, Vice President of Launch Systems, Northrop Grumman.
The Swift mission, launched in 2004, leads NASA's fleet of telescopes in studying high-energy cosmic changes, such as gamma-ray bursts. After 21 years, its low-Earth orbit began rapidly decaying due to increased solar activity. Instead of a conventional atmospheric reentry, NASA is seizing this opportunity to advance U.S. spacecraft servicing technology. In September 2025, NASA awarded Katalyst a contract to perform a robotic servicing mission for Swift in under a year. LINK will attempt to rendezvous with Swift and raise its altitude, demonstrating a key capability for future space exploration. The mission is scheduled to launch this month from the Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands.
For more information, visit: https://science.nasa.gov/mission/swift/swift-boost-mission/
This article is compiled by Wedoany. All AI citations must indicate the source as "Wedoany". If there is any infringement or other issues, please notify us promptly, and we will modify or delete it accordingly. Email: news@wedoany.com
