NASA/KATALYST MEDIA TELECON ON REBOOSTING SWIFT, June 17, 2026, time TBA

NASA and Katalyst are preparing to launch a Katalyst robotic servicing mission to attempt to reboost NASA’s Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory. Launched in 2004, the Swift space telescope’s orbit is decaying and it will reenter if not reboosted.

NASA contracted with Katalyst Space Technologies to launch a spacecraft, LINK, to rendezvous with Swift and raise its altitude. LINK will be delivered to space by an air-launched Pegasus XL rocket, carried aloft on the L-1011 Stargazer aircraft.

Pegasus was developed by Orbital Sciences Corp., which merged with ATK to become Orbital ATK, which was then bought by Northrop Grumman. Its first launch was in 1990.

Stargazer, carrying Pegasus XL and LINK, will take off from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility, VA in June. The date is TBD.

On June 17, media are invited to visit Wallops to see the airplane and rocket, and NASA and Katalyst will hold an audio-only media telecon that will air on NASA’s YouTube channel.  The time for the telecon will be announced later.

More information for media who want to attend in person is in NASA’s press release.