NASA and Katalyst Begin Testing for Swift Satellite Boost Mission

The LINK robotic servicing spacecraft will undergo vibration and thermal testing at NASA Goddard ahead of launch later this year.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 7:23pm

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A bold, abstract painting in soft blues, greens, and grays depicting the intricate orbital mechanics and robotic servicing of a satellite, conveying the structural order and complexity of the mission to extend the lifetime of the NASA Swift observatory.An innovative robotic servicing mission aims to boost NASA's aging Swift observatory into a higher, more stable orbit, extending the satellite's lifetime for continued scientific exploration.Greenbelt Today

Engineers from Katalyst Space Technologies have arrived at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, to begin environmental tests of the company's LINK robotic servicing spacecraft. The LINK will attempt to rendezvous with and boost NASA's Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory into a higher orbit before the 21-year-old satellite re-enters Earth's atmosphere.

Why it matters

NASA is working with Katalyst to boost the Swift observatory to its original orbit, pioneering a new servicing capability for the nation's spacecraft fleet and allowing Swift to resume its valuable scientific observations. The mission will extend the life of an existing spacecraft not originally designed for servicing.

The details

The Swift team has already taken steps to extend the satellite's lifetime, including suspending operations of its Ultraviolet/Optical and X-ray telescopes to reduce drag, and halting observations by the Burst Alert Telescope to further reduce power consumption. Katalyst's LINK spacecraft will now undergo vibration and thermal testing at NASA Goddard before being installed into Northrop Grumman's Pegasus rocket for launch later this year.

  • On April 14, 2026, engineers from Katalyst Space Technologies arrived at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center.
  • On April 7, 2026, the Swift team halted observations by the satellite's Burst Alert Telescope.
  • In February 2026, the Swift team suspended operation of its Ultraviolet/Optical and X-ray telescopes.

The players

Katalyst Space Technologies

A space technology company based in Flagstaff, Arizona that has been contracted by NASA to attempt to boost the Swift observatory into a higher orbit.

NASA's Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory

A 21-year-old NASA satellite that is experiencing faster-than-anticipated orbital decay due to increased solar activity.

S. Bradley Cenko

The principal investigator for the Swift mission at NASA Goddard.

Ghonhee Lee

The chief executive officer of Katalyst Space Technologies.

Northrop Grumman

The company that will launch the Katalyst LINK spacecraft aboard its Pegasus rocket.

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What they’re saying

“It's only been about seven months since NASA awarded Katalyst a contract to attempt to boost Swift with the company's LINK satellite. Combined with our changes to science operations, the teams are creating the best opportunity possible to extend Swift's lifetime and continue its legacy of cosmic exploration.”

— S. Bradley Cenko, Swift's principal investigator at NASA Goddard

“Swift is still producing valuable scientific data, and we have a way to preserve that while setting a blueprint for how we operate in space. The Swift boost mission is designed to extend the life of an existing spacecraft, one not designed for servicing, quickly and cost effectively. NASA is leading the shift toward more flexible ways of operating in space by working with companies like Katalyst to get more out of its missions and deliver the best return for taxpayers.”

— Ghonhee Lee, Chief executive officer of Katalyst Space Technologies

What’s next

In the coming weeks, Katalyst will move forward with LINK's vibration and thermal tests using NASA Goddard's in-house facilities before installation into Northrop Grumman's Pegasus rocket at the agency's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia.

The takeaway

This mission represents a new era of spacecraft servicing and life extension, allowing NASA to get more value out of existing satellite assets by partnering with innovative commercial providers like Katalyst. The successful boost of the Swift observatory could pave the way for similar servicing missions to extend the lifetimes of other aging spacecraft in the future.