NASA’s 20‑Year‑Old Gamma‑Ray Burst Watcher Faces a Fiery End – A Startup May Save It
NASA launched the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory in 2004.
It carries three telescopes that spot gamma‑ray bursts (GRBs) – the universe’s most powerful explosions.
Swift beams the burst locations to ground and space telescopes within seconds.
Its design has reshaped transient astronomy over the past two decades .
The satellite orbits at about 600 km, but atmospheric drag is pulling it down.
It has already slipped to roughly 400 km and has no thrusters to fight the drag.
NASA estimates a 50% chance of uncontrolled re-entry by mid-2026. There is a 90% chance by the end of 2026.
Losing Swift would leave a gap in real‑time GRB alerts.
The scientific community relies on its rapid response to study fleeting high‑energy events .
Katalyst’s rescue plan
NASA has hired Katalyst Space Technologies to rescue the observatory.
Katalyst will launch a robotic servicer called LINK on a Northrop Grumman Pegasus XL rocket.
Pegasus is air‑launched from a Stargazer aircraft at about 12 km altitude .
The rocket will carry LINK to Swift’s unusual 20.6‑degree inclination orbit – a trajectory that would need a lot of fuel from a ground launch .
In mid‑2026 the servicer will rendezvous with Swift.
It will inspect the satellite, then use robotic arms to grasp it.
LINK will fire its engines to boost Swift to a higher, safer orbit .
The mission has a tight schedule.
Katalyst must launch by June 2026 and complete the boost before the predicted re‑entry window .
If successful, the rescue will extend Swift’s life by many years.
It will also prove that private companies can service aging government satellites in low‑Earth orbit .
Why Swift matters
Swift detects about 100 GRBs each year.
Its rapid alerts enable multi‑wavelength follow‑up worldwide.
The data have led to breakthroughs on black‑hole births, neutron‑star mergers and the early universe .
A loss would force astronomers to wait for a new mission – a gap that could last a decade.
Tech Newsroom 24/7 