Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory: A Landmark Mission in High-Energy Astrophysics

Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory: A Landmark Mission in High-Energy Astrophysics

¨     Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory is a NASA space telescope launched in 2004 for high-energy astrophysics observations.

¨     NASA is preparing a robotic servicing mission to prevent the observatory from atmospheric re-entry and raise its orbit from approximately 360 km to 600 km.

¨     Swift carries instruments for studying Gamma-Ray Bursts (GRBs), X-ray astronomy, and ultraviolet (UV) observations.

¨     The observatory was not originally designed for robotic servicing, making the capture and orbit-raising operation technically challenging.

¨     The servicing spacecraft, named LINK, is being developed by Katalyst Space Technologies, based in Arizona.

¨     LINK will be launched aboard a Northrop Grumman Pegasus XL rocket and will use three robotic arms to rendezvous with, capture, and boost Swift into a higher orbit using ion thrusters.

¨     Swift’s orbit has been decaying since early 2025 due to increased atmospheric drag caused by heightened solar activity that began in 2024.

¨     In September 2025, NASA awarded Katalyst Space Technologies a US$30 million contract to design, build, test, and launch the LINK spacecraft within nine months.