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Health & Science2h 12m ago

Katalyst Space Technologies' LINK spacecraft will launch to rendezvous with NASA's Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory and boost it into a higher orbit.

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Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands; Low Earth Orbit

Who
Katalyst Space Technologies, NASA, Northrop Grumman
What
Katalyst Space Technologies' LINK spacecraft will launch to rendezvous with NASA's Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory and boost it into a higher orbit.
When
Fri, 19 Jun 2026 12:00:00 GMT · 2h 12m ago
Where
Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands; Low Earth Orbit ·
Why
The Swift telescope's orbit is decaying faster than expected due to heightened solar activity, risking an uncontrolled reentry.
The Frontline Impact

How this affects you

This mission represents NASA's first attempt to use a commercial robotic spacecraft to service an uncrewed government satellite not originally designed for servicing, potentially extending the operational life of the 21-year-old observatory and proving new satellite servicing capabilities.

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