NASA will host an audio-only media teleconference at 11 a.m. EDT, Wednesday, June 17, to preview the Katalyst Space mission to boost the orbit of NASA\u2019s Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory.<\/p>\n
Katalyst\u2019s robotic servicing spacecraft, called LINK, will attempt to rendezvous with Swift and raise its altitude, extending its science mission lifespan and advancing a key capability for the future of space exploration. The LINK spacecraft will launch on Northrop Grumman\u2019s Pegasus XL rocket later this month from Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands.<\/p>\n
Media interested in participating by phone must RSVP no later than two hours before the start of the call to Amy Barra at: amy.l.barra@nasa.gov<\/a>. NASA\u2019s media accreditation policy<\/a> is available online.<\/p>\n Audio of the media teleconference will stream on the agency\u2019s website at:<\/p>\n https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/live<\/a><\/p>\n Participants in the media teleconference include:<\/p>\n Shawn Domagal-Goldman, division director, Astrophysics, NASA Headquarters in Washington The Swift mission, which launched in 2004, leads NASA\u2019s fleet of telescopes in studying changes in the high-energy universe, like gamma-ray bursts, which are the most powerful explosions in the cosmos. When a rapid, sudden event takes place in the sky, Swift serves as a \u201cdispatcher,\u201d providing critical information that allows other \u201cfirst responder\u201d missions to follow up to learn more about how the universe works.<\/p>\n After 21 years, Swift\u2019s low Earth orbit has begun to rapidly decay because of increased solar activity. Rather than allowing the observatory to re-enter Earth\u2019s atmosphere, as many missions do at the end of their lifetimes, NASA is using this opportunity to advance U.S. spacecraft servicing technology. In September 2025, NASA awarded<\/a> a contract to Katalyst to mount a robotic servicing mission for Swift in less than a year. The mission will use LINK to rendezvous with Swift and boost it to a higher altitude, demonstrating a key capability for the future of space exploration. The mission is targeted for launch in June from Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands.<\/p>\n Learn more about the mission to boost Swift\u2019s orbit at:<\/p>\n https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mission\/swift\/swift-boost-mission\/<\/a><\/p>\n -end-<\/p>\n Karen Fox \/ Alise Fisher
\nBrad Cenko, principal investigator, Swift, NASA\u2019s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland
\nKieran Wilson, principal investigator, LINK, Katalyst Space
\nRobert Lamontagne, vice president, strategic partnerships, Katalyst Space
\nWes Collier, vice president, launch systems, Northrop Grumman<\/p>\n
Headquarters, Washington
202-385-1287 \/ 202-358-2546
karen.c.fox@nasa.gov<\/a> \/ alise.m.fisher@nasa.gov<\/a><\/p>\n