THE HALFAX HEIMDALL AUGUR

NASA to bump telescope back into space to avoid it falling to Earth AustralianNews June 29, 2026 journo US space agency NASA is racing to save an aging telescope from falling back to Earth with a daring rescue mission. The $US30 million ($43.5m) salvage operation is expected to get underway as soon as this week with the planned launch of a robotic lifesaver. NASA hired start-up Katalyst Space Technologies to boost the Swift Observatory to a higher orbit where it can continue hunting for some of the universe’s biggest explosions. After more than 20 years in space, NASA’s Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory is slowly falling back to Earth. ( Supplied: NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center Conceptual Image Lab ) A three-armed spacecraft built by Katalyst will chase Swift once it takes off from an atoll in the Pacific’s Marshall Islands aboard an aeroplane-launched Pegasus rocket. The rocket’s lift-off is expected to occur as early as Tuesday, local time. The Swift Observatory observes rapid bursts of light in space and alerts space agencies of their existence. ( Supplied: NASA/Axel Mellinger/Central Michigan University ) New playbook to push Swift and Hubble back into orbit Scanning the cosmos…

NASA's Daring Plan To Save Its Space Telescope Falling Out Of ... Innovation Science NASA’s Daring Plan To Save Its Space Telescope Falling Out Of Space By Jamie Carter , Senior Contributor. Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. An award-winning reporter writing about stargazing and the night sky. Follow Author Jun 21, 2026, 04:04am EDT Jun 22, 2026, 01:51am EDT --:-- / --:-- This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more . This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more . Summary An Arizona startup, Katalyst Space Technologies, is undertaking a daring mission to save NASA's Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory. Launched in 2004, Swift is a crucial telescope for studying gamma-ray bursts, acting as NASA's "first responder" for sudden cosmic events. However, atmospheric drag, intensified by recent solar activity, is pulling it dangerously close to Earth, threatening its imminent burn-up. Katalyst's LINK spacecraft, developed in a remarkable 250 days, will attempt to rendezvous, capture, and reboost Swift to a safer orbit. This high-stakes mission, launching via Pegasus XL, is a race against time, as Swift is expected to de-orbit by October. Succ…

NASA Awards Company to Attempt Swift Spacecraft Orbit Boost 4 min read NASA Awards Company to Attempt Swift Spacecraft Orbit Boost Gerelle Q. Dodson Sep 24, 2025 RELEASE 25-065 NASA Headquarters NASA’s Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, shown in this artist’s concept, orbits Earth as it studies the ever-changing universe. Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center Conceptual Image Lab Driving rapid innovation in the American space industry, NASA has awarded Katalyst Space Technologies of Flagstaff, Arizona, a contract to raise a spacecraft’s orbit. Katalyst’s robotic servicing spacecraft will rendezvous with NASA’s Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory and raise it to a higher altitude, demonstrating a key capability for the future of space exploration and extending the Swift mission’s science lifetime. NASA’s Swift launched in 2004 to explore the universe’s most powerful explosions, called gamma-ray bursts. The spacecraft’s low Earth orbit has been decaying gradually, which happens to satellites over time. However, because of recent increases in the Sun’s activity, Swift is experiencing more atmospheric drag than anticipated, speeding up its orbital decay. While NASA could have allowed the…

NASA launched an emergency mission to stop the Swift Observatory from crashing to Earth The Swift Observatory was launched in 2004, but recent solar storms have pushed its orbit lower, and it's in danger of burning up in Earth's atmosphere as soon as this year. To try and stave off its demise, NASA has enlisted Katalyst Space Technologies. The company's Link spacecraft launched Friday with the goal of intercepting […]

NASA launches bold mission to rescue Swift space telescope before it ... An illustration of NASA’s Swift gamma-ray observatory in orbit around Earth. The $250 million space telescope will fall through our atmosphere later this year if a bold rescue mission isn’t successful. (Image credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center Conceptual Image Lab) Copy link Facebook X Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Editor's note: This article was updated at 06:53 EDT on July 3 with news that the mission has launched and reached orbit . A rescue spacecraft set to speed toward a NASA telescope to prevent it from falling into Earth's atmosphere has launched into orbit. The first-of-its-kind mission reached orbit after launching at 4:36 a.m. EDT (0836 GMT) Friday (July 3) from the Marshall Islands, carrying a robot-arm spacecraft named Link into the sky aboard a modified Lockheed Martin L-1011 airliner. In midair, a Northrop Grumman Pegasus XL rocket fired Link into orbit, where it will now rendezvous with NASA's Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, a gamma-ray telescope that has been…

"Launched in 2004, Swift is sinking faster than ever because of recent solar storms. NASA is paying $30 million for Katalyst to capture the telescope and boost its orbit so it can continue tracking some of the biggest explosions in the universe." @apnews.com apnews.com/article/swif...

A bold satellite rescue mission came together in record time, but will ... Text settings Story text Size Small Standard Large Width * Standard Wide Links Standard Orange * Subscribers only Learn more Minimize to nav WALLOPS ISLAND, Virginia—Just 10 months ago, NASA asked three companies if they could do something nobody had done before. Could they build and launch a satellite to save a $500 million astronomy mission at risk of crashing back to Earth? What’s more, could they do it in less than a year on a tight budget? Katalyst Space Technologies, a startup founded in 2020, presented the most compelling solution. “T hey came back with a response that was technically and programmatically plausible, and then we were like, ‘Yeah, let’s do it,’” said Shawn Domagal-Goldman, director of NASA’s astrophysics division. That was in August of last year. In September, NASA awarded Katalyst a $30 million contract to build, test, and launch a small satellite to chase down Swift and latch onto it with three robotic arms. Then, Katalyst’s Link servicing spacecraft will boost Swift’s orbit back to a safe operating altitude, allowing it to resume scientific observations. Easier said than don…

Mission launches to save NASA observatory from falling to Earth | CNN An illustration depicts the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory spacecraft in low-Earth orbit. NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Federal agencies Space programs Astronomy See all topics Facebook Tweet Email Link Threads Link Copied! Follow A mission to rescue one of NASA’s storied space observatories from falling to Earth has launched on a daring, first-of-its-kind endeavor. If successful, it will mark the first time a commercial robotic mission has captured an uncrewed NASA spacecraft that wasn’t designed to be serviced in space, according to the agency. Without intervention, the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory would dip below a key orbital threshold this month due to atmospheric drag and the impact of recent solar activity. The observatory has studied an array of cosmic objects across multiple wavelengths of light for nearly 22 years. NASA NASA on a mission to save a falling space telescope 2:28 The Swift operations team at Penn State University’s Eberly College of Science has reduced power usage and steered the observatory to eye the cosmos from a more streamlined position. But once sinking below an optimal altitude…

NASA races to save Swift telescope from falling back to Earth - NBC 6 NASA NASA races to save Swift telescope from falling back to Earth with daring rescue mission Scanning the cosmos since its launch in 2004, Swift has been sinking faster and faster because of recent intense solar activity. By Marcia Dunn | The Associated Press • Published 5 hours ago • Updated 5 hours ago BOOKMARKER Sophia Roberts/NASA via AP This photo provided by NASA shows Kieran Wilson, LINK’s principal investigator, and Hunter Robertson, a space systems engineer, both at Katalyst Space, standing next to their spacecraft inside the SES (Space Environment Simulator) at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., April 17, 2026, ahead of thermal vacuum testing. NASA is racing to save an aging telescope from falling back to Earth with a daring rescue mission. The $30 million salvage operation gets underway as soon as this week with the planned launch of a robotic lifesaver. Watch NBC6 free wherever you are WATCH HERE NASA hired startup Katalyst Space Technologies to boost the Swift Observatory to a higher orbit where it can continue hunting for some of the universe’s biggest explosions. A three-armed …

NASA discussing bold mission to boost Swift space telescope today Click for next article Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article 1 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Mission Preview: NASA-Katalyst Swift Orbit Boost (June 17, 2026) - YouTube Watch On A bold telescope-rescue mission is set to launch later this month, and you can learn all about it today (June 17). That mission will be conducted by Link, a robotic servicing spacecraft built and operated by the Arizona-based company Katalyst Space Technologies. Link will meet up with NASA's Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory in the final frontier, raising the telescope's orbit to give it more time to study the heavens. NASA and Katalyst representatives will discuss the plan today, during a press conference that starts at 11 a.m. EDT (1500 GMT). You can listen live here or directly via NASA . Latest Videos From View more Watch full video here: Katalyst Space's Link spacecraft is seen mated with its Pegasus XL rocket. (Image credit: NASA/Ron Beard) Participants will be: Shawn Domagal-Goldman, division director, Astrophysics, …

Launched in 2004, Swift is sinking faster than ever because of recent solar storms. NASA is paying $30 million for Katalyst to capture the telescope and boost its orbit so it can continue tracking the universe’s biggest explosions.

Katalyst Robotic Spacecraft Passes Testing Milestone Ahead of First-of ... Katalyst Robotic Spacecraft Passes Testing Milestone Ahead of First-of-its-Kind Mission Press Release May 8, 2026 NEWS LINK moving into a vibration chamber at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center Photo credit: NASA/Scott Wiessinger ‍ Successful environmental testing clears key milestone toward June 2026 launch to extend the life of NASA’s Swift observatory Broomfield, CO. — May 8, 2026 — Katalyst Space has completed environmental testing of its robotic spacecraft, LINK, clearing a key milestone toward launch. LINK will capture and raise the orbit of NASA’s Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory before it reenters Earth’s atmosphere later this year. ‍ Clearing a Critical Milestone Completion of the test campaign marks a major step forward in an accelerated program timeline that has compressed spacecraft development, integration, and validation into less than one year following NASA’s contract award in September 2025. The LINK spacecraft underwent a series of rigorous tests at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, including vibration and thermal vacuum testing designed to simulate launch and the harsh conditions of space…

Nasa launches high-stakes mission to save ageing telescope Swift from falling to Earth The mission will be carried out by US startup Katalyst Space Technologies, which won the NASA contract last September. Its three-armed robotic spacecraft, named Lift, will launch aboard an air-launched Pegasus rocket from the Marshall Islands before spending about a month chasing down Swift in orbit. Swift has been observing the universe since 2004.

NASA races to save Swift telescope from falling back to Earth with ... This photo provided by NASA shows Kieran Wilson, LINK’s principal investigator, and Hunter Robertson, a space systems engineer, both at Katalyst Space, standing next to their spacecraft inside the SES (Space Environment Simulator) at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., April 17, 2026, ahead of thermal vacuum testing. (Sophia Roberts/NASA via AP) CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) —NASAis racing to save an aging telescope from falling back to Earth with a daring rescue mission. The $30 million salvage operation gets underway as soon as this week with the planned launch of a robotic lifesaver. NASA hired startup Katalyst Space Technologies to boost the Swift Observatory to a higher orbit where it can continue hunting for some of the universe’s biggest explosions. A three-armed spacecraft built by Katalyst will chase after Swift once it takes off from an atoll in the Pacific’s Marshall Islands aboard anairplane-launched Pegasus rocket. Liftoff could occur as early as Tuesday. Scanning the cosmos since its launch in 2004, Swift has been sinking faster and faster because of recent intensesolar activity.…

Inside NASA's daring race to save a doomed space telescope SPACE Outer Space Add Topic Inside NASA’s daring race to save a doomed space telescope A rescue mission could launch before June is out giving the falling Swift Observatory a second life. Can NASA pull it off? Eric Lagatta USA TODAY June 28, 2026, 6:03 a.m. ET Hear this story NASA's Swift Observatory is at risk of falling out of orbit and burning up in the atmosphere. A rescue mission is planned to launch a commercial robotic spacecraft to boost the telescope's orbit. The mission is a first-of-its-kind attempt to service a satellite not designed for in-space capture. If successful, the mission will extend the life of the observatory for several more years. A high-stakes mission is on the cusp of launching an uncrewed spacecraft on a bold journey to save a NASA telescope from certain doom as it plummets back to Earth. NASA's Swift Observatory is at risk of falling to its fiery death in the atmosphere after more than two decades of observing the cosmos from Earth orbit. But that won't happen if NASA has anything to say about it. In less than a year, the U.S. space agency and commercial aerospace partners have raced against t…

[UPDATED] NASA Picks Air-Launched Pegasus XL to Save Swift Observatory ... 28 September 2025 Share: Credit: Pexels NASA is turning to a young space company for a mission unlike any attempted before: prevent one of its science satellites from falling out of the sky. The Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, launched in 2004 to study the most powerful explosions in the universe, is at risk of burning up in Earth’s atmosphere within the next two years. To avoid that fate, Arizona-based Katalyst Space Technologies has been awardeda $30 million contractto attempt the first robotic rescue of a satellite never designed for servicing. Related:NASA Taps Companies Old And New To Provide More Commercial Satellite Data Updated on 20 November Startup Katalyst Space Technologies confirmed that its $30 million rescue mission will ride aboard a Pegasus XL — the horizontal-launch tech going back to Orbital Sciences and the 1990s but not used since 2021. The choice may seem unusual, but it’s a practical and proven one. Pegasus is one of the few launchers in the U.S. affordably capable of reaching Swift’s challenging 20.6° inclination orbit on a tight mid-2026 deadline, as the satellite faces up to…

NASA races to save Swift telescope from falling back to Earth The $30 million salvage operation gets underway as soon as this week. CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. --CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) —NASAis racing to save an aging telescope from falling back to Earth with a daring rescue mission. The $30 million salvage operation gets underway as soon as this week with the planned launch of a robotic lifesaver. NASA hired startup Katalyst Space Technologies to boost the Swift Observatory to a higher orbit where it can continue hunting for some of the universe’s biggest explosions. A three-armed spacecraft built by Katalyst will chase after Swift once it takes off from an atoll in the Pacific's Marshall Islands aboard anairplane-launched Pegasus rocket. Liftoff could occur as early as Tuesday. Scanning the cosmos since its launch in 2004, Swift has been sinking faster and faster because of recent intensesolar activity. It needs to get to a higher, more stable orbit as soon as possibleto survive. NASA'sHubble Space Telescope— also at risk — could be next. Like Swift, Hubble is losing altitude as thesun eruptswith one flare after another. Katalyst Space CEO Ghonhee Lee said his company's next-ge…

NASA prepares to launch daring rescue to save aging telescope from ... NASA is racing to save an aging telescope from falling back to Earth with a daring rescue mission. The $30 million salvage operation gets underway as soon as this week with the planned launch of a robotic lifesaver. NASA hired startup Katalyst Space Technologies to boost the Swift Observatory to a higher orbit where it can continue hunting for some of the universe's biggest explosions. A three-armed spacecraft built by Katalyst will chase after Swift once it takes off from an atoll in the Pacific's Marshall Islands aboard an airplane-launched Pegasus rocket. Liftoff could occur as early as Tuesday. Scanning the cosmos since its launch in 2004, Swift has been sinking faster and faster because of recent intense solar activity. It needs to get to a higher, more stable orbit as soon as possible to survive. NASA's Hubble Space Telescope — also at risk — could be next. Like Swift, Hubble is losing altitude as the sun erupts with one flare after another. Katalyst Space CEO Ghonhee Lee said his company's next-generation robot, still in development, could save the day for the much bigger Hubble in a couple years. Only C…

NASA sends spacecraft the size of a fridge to catch its falling Swift ... **NASA Embarks on Unprecedented Mission to Intercept Falling Observatory** In a groundbreaking maneuver designed to safeguard valuable scientific assets, NASA has initiated a mission of unparalleled complexity and ambition. The agency is preparing to deploy a specially designed spacecraft, roughly the dimensions of a domestic refrigerator, with the primary objective of intercepting and deorbiting the Swift Gamma-Ray Burst Explorer, a venerable space telescope nearing the end of its operational life. This audacious undertaking marks a significant milestone in orbital mechanics and space debris mitigation. The Swift telescope, launched in 2004, has been instrumental in revolutionizing our understanding of some of the most energetic and distant phenomena in the universe, including gamma-ray bursts, supernovae, and active galactic nuclei. However, after nearly two decades of dedicated service, the observatory is experiencing orbital decay, a natural consequence of atmospheric drag and the relentless forces of space. Without intervention, Swift is destined to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere, posing a potential, alb…

NASA plans robotic mission to save ageing space telescope <p>NASA is set to launch a daring robotic rescue mission, a long-shot bid to prevent one of its ageing telescopes from vanishing into dust.</p> <p>If successful, the effort could pave the way for giving other satellites a second life.</p> <p>The operation is set to last several months, kicking off with the launch of a robot designed to rescue the Swift space telescope that’s currently falling towards Earth.</p> <p>Without intervention, Swift is expected to soon burn up in the atmosphere. The rescue spacecraft developed by the US startup Katalyst was slated to lift off on Tuesday at 1023 GMT (3:23pm PKT) from a Pacific Ocean atoll aboard a small rocket named Pegasus.</p> <p>But NASA postponed the launch, citing unfavourable weather conditions, and set the next launch attempt for “no earlier than Wednesday, July 1” at 0943 GMT (2:43pm PKT).</p> <p>The rocket-propelled launch vehicle will not take off from a launch pad. Instead, it will be released from a jet.</p> <p>“Everything about this mission is so crazy,” said NASA astrophysicist Regina Caputo with a laugh during an interview with <em>AFP.</em></p> <p>After it reaches an…

NASA races to save Swift telescope from falling back to Earth with ... This photo provided by NASA shows Kieran Wilson, LINK’s principal investigator, and Hunter Robertson, a space systems engineer, both at Katalyst Space, standing next to their spacecraft inside the SES (Space Environment Simulator) at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., April 17, 2026, ahead of thermal vacuum testing. (Sophia Roberts/NASA via AP) CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — NASA is racing to save an aging telescope from falling back to Earth with a daring rescue mission. The $30 million salvage operation gets underway as soon as this week with the planned launch of a robotic lifesaver. NASA hired startup Katalyst Space Technologies to boost the Swift Observatory to a higher orbit where it can continue hunting for some of the universe’s biggest explosions. A three-armed spacecraft built by Katalyst will chase after Swift once it takes off from an atoll in the Pacific’s Marshall Islands aboard an airplane-launched Pegasus rocket. Liftoff could occur as early as Tuesday. Scanning the cosmos since its launch in 2004, Swift has been sinking faster and faster because of recent intense solar activity. It n…

Last-minute launch problem delays satellite rescue mission | AP News This photo provided by NASA shows Kieran Wilson, LINK’s principal investigator, and Hunter Robertson, a space systems engineer, both at Katalyst Space, standing next to their spacecraft inside the SES (Space Environment Simulator) at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., April 17, 2026, ahead of thermal vacuum testing. (Sophia Roberts/NASA via AP) CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — A rush rescue mission to save aNASA space telescoperemains grounded, this time because of a last-minute launch problem. Northrop Grumman’s rocket-launching plane took off from the Marshall Islands in the Pacific on Thursday, following weather delays all week. While in flight, the team observed a warning in the stream of data and decided against releasing the Pegasus rocket strapped to the plane’s belly, the company said. It was not immediately clear whether the warning came from the rocket or the plane. The rocket holds a three-armed robotic spacecraft built by Katalyst Space Technologies to capture the Swift Observatory, which will come crashing down by October if no help arrives. No new launch date has been set. NASA pau…

NASA launches robot to rescue aging Swift telescope from fiery ... June 30, 2026 NASA launches robot to rescue aging Swift telescope from fiery demise by Charlotte CAUSIT edited by Andrew Zinin Editors' notes This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: fact-checked reputable news agency proofread The GIST Add as preferred source The Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory telescope was launched in 2004, and was originally designed for a two-year mission. NASA is set to launch a daring robotic rescue mission, a long-shot bid to prevent one of its aging telescopes from vanishing into dust. If successful, the effort could pave the way for giving other satellites a second life. The operation is set to last several months, kicking off with the launch of a robot designed to rescue the Swift space telescope, which is currently falling toward Earth. Without intervention, Swift is expected to soon burn up in the atmosphere. The rescue spacecraft developed by the U.S. startup Katalyst was slated to lift off Tuesday at 1023 GMT from a Pacific Ocean ato…

Swift Boost Mission: an opportunity for science and defense Instead of letting a 22-year-old space telescope fall to Earth, NASA wants to rescue the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory with a robotic spacecraft designed to boost the telescope back into higher orbit.

Katalyst's satellite rescue mission is now in pursuit of NASA's ... Text settings Story text Size Small Standard Large Width * Standard Wide Links Standard Orange * Subscribers only Learn more Minimize to nav High above the remote Pacific Ocean, about halfway between Hawaii and the northernmost part of Australia, an air-launched rocket fired into space on Independence Day weekend to kick off a weekslong pursuit of a NASA astronomy satellite perilously close to falling out of orbit. The endeavor to rescue NASA’s Swift satellite is the first mission of its kind. NASA put out a call for commercial companies less than a year ago to propose how they could rapidly build and launch a small satellite to latch onto the Swift spacecraft and boost its altitude so that it doesn’t come down in a few months. Katalyst Space Technologies responded with the best offer. NASA awarded the company a contract last September to build and launch a mission to rescue Swift. A little more than nine months later, Katalyst’s nearly half-ton Link satellite is safely in orbit. For anyone who follows the space industry, building, testing, and launching a functioning first-of-its-kind satellite of that si…

📰 **NASA launched an emergency mission to stop the Swift Observatory from crashing to Earth** The Swift Observatory was launched in 2004, but recent solar storms have pushed its orbit lower, and it's in danger of burning up in Earth's atmosphere as soon as this year. To try and stave off it […]

Virginia takes center stage in daring NASA mission to save space telescope LOCAL How Virginia powered a 1st-of-its kind space telescope rescue mission NASA mission to rescue its Swift Observatory from the brink has relied on Virginia, with Northrop Grumman supplying the rocket and Wallops for where the spacecraft was integrated. Eric Lagatta USA TODAY NETWORK June 23, 2026, 9:44 a.m. ET NASA is attempting a first-of-its-kind mission to save its Swift Observatory from falling out of orbit. A Virginia-based company, Northrop Grumman, manufactured the rocket and aircraft for the rescue mission. The mission will use a robotic spacecraft to capture and boost the telescope to a higher altitude. The rocket, spacecraft and aircraft were integrated at Wallops in Virginia ahead of a launch in June from the Marshall Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. Virginia plays a central role in a daring NASA mission : It will soon attempt to stave off the death of one of its space telescopes in danger of falling back to Earth. The Swift Observatory has been scanning the cosmos for more than two decades while orbiting Earth. But in recent years, NASA has noticed that the crucial satellite has been unexp…

Rescue mission is launched to save an aging NASA telescope | AP News This photo provided by NASA shows Kieran Wilson, LINK’s principal investigator, and Hunter Robertson, a space systems engineer, both at Katalyst Space, standing next to their spacecraft inside the SES (Space Environment Simulator) at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., April 17, 2026, ahead of thermal vacuum testing. (Sophia Roberts/NASA via AP) CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — A three-armed spacecraft rocketed into orbit Friday torescue a NASA telescopethat’s in danger of crashing back to Earth. Northrop Grumman launched Katalyst Space Technologies’ Link spacecraft from theMarshall Islandsin the Pacific. The Pegasus rocket blasted off from the belly of a modified airplane, putting Link on course to reach and capture NASA’s Swift Observatory in about a month. Launched in 2004, Swift is sinking faster than ever because ofrecent solar storms. NASA is paying $30 million for Katalyst to capture the telescope and boost its orbit so it can continue tracking some of the biggest explosions in the universe, like gamma ray bursts and exploding stars. If all goes well, Swift could be back scanning the cosmo…

Swift Space Telescope Rescue: NASA's Latest Major Mission Home Space NASA's Swift Telescope Gets a New Lease on Life — Here's the... Space NASA’s Swift Telescope Gets a New Lease on Life — Here’s the Bold Plan By Muhammad Zayn Emad June 17, 2026 0 9 Share Facebook X Linkedin WhatsApp Copy URL Featured image for: NASA's Swift Telescope Gets a New Lease on Life — Here's the Bold Plan The Swift space telescope has been one of NASA’s quiet workhorses for more than two decades — hunting gamma-ray bursts, watching stars get torn apart by black holes, and generally punching well above its weight class. Now, it’s in trouble. And the plan to save it is unlike anything the space industry has tried before. The Swift space telescope is being dragged toward reentry by atmospheric drag, with some models predicting it could fall as soon as this summer. Katalyst Space Technologies’ robotic Link spacecraft will boost the Swift space telescope to a higher, safer orbit later this month. This marks the first time a private spacecraft has ever attempted to dock with a robotic U.S. government satellite. Link will launch aboard a Northrop Grumman Pegasus XL air-launched rocket from the Marshall Islands …

NASA is paying $30 million for a 1st-of-its-kind rescue mission to ... Click for next article (Image credit: NASA/Katalyst Space) Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article 2 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter On paper, it seems like the math would be clear. A nearly 22-year-old space telescope, well past its prime, is falling out of space after decades of hunting the biggest explosions in the universe. Rest in peace, right? After all, it would cost NASA $30 million to save the telescope , called the Swift Observatory , which the agency launched in 2004 on a planned two-year mission. Some of us have cars that we've replaced far sooner for much less. And now, higher-than-expected drag on the satellite from Earth's outer atmosphere (caused by solar storms) will pull Swift out of orbit by year's end. So why not accept the inevitable fiery demise of the observatory when it plunges back to Earth? Swift, it turns out, is still worth it, according to NASA. The observatory has spent over two decades as a sort of orbital sentinel that scans the cosmos for gamma-ray bursts , rea…