NASA and Katalyst to launch Swift rescue mission

NASA is preparing to launch an unprecedented robotic rescue mission this week to save its aging Swift Observatory from an uncontrolled re-entry into Earth's atmosphere. The agency has partnered with startup Katalyst Space Technologies on the $30 million operation, which aims to capture the telescope and boost it into a higher, more stable orbit.

The mission is set to begin with the launch of Katalyst's robotic spacecraft, named Lift, aboard an air-launched Pegasus rocket from the Marshall Islands. Liftoff could occur as early as Tuesday, June 30, 2026.

Launched in 2004, the Swift Observatory has been a vital tool for detecting gamma-ray bursts, supernovae, and other sudden cosmic explosions. However, increased solar activity near the peak of the sun's 11-year cycle has heated Earth's upper atmosphere, creating greater drag on satellites in low Earth orbit. This has accelerated Swift's orbital decay, pushing it toward a critical threshold.

The spacecraft currently orbits about 360 kilometers (224 miles) above Earth. For the rescue to be feasible, it must remain above 300 kilometers (185 miles). NASA estimates Swift could fall below this "point of no return" around October. To buy...