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BRAVE AI:
The Swift Boost mission, also known as the Swift Rescue Mission, successfully launched on July 3, 2026, to save NASA’s Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory from orbital decay and atmospheric reentry.
Mission Details
Operator: Katalyst Space Technologies built the LINK spacecraft under a $30 million NASA contract awarded in September 2025.
Launch Vehicle: The mission utilized a Northrop Grumman Pegasus XL rocket, air-dropped from a modified L-1011 aircraft over the Marshall Islands to reach Swift’s low inclination orbit.
Objective: LINK will rendezvous with the 2004-era telescope, which is currently at a dangerously low altitude of 224 miles (360 km) due to solar activity.
Methodology: Using three robotic arms and ion thrusters, LINK will attach to Swift’s structural features and gradually boost its orbit back to approximately 373 miles (600 km).
Status and Significance
Current Status: LINK has successfully reached orbit and is undergoing system checkouts; it is expected to reach Swift in about a month.
Historical Context: This is the first attempt to robotically capture and reboost an unprepared, non-cooperative satellite in low Earth orbit.
Outcome: If successful, the mission will extend Swift’s operational life by up to 10 years, preserving its critical capability to detect and characterize gamma-ray bursts.