A Northrop Grumman Pegasus XL rocket is scheduled to launch a robotic servicing spacecraft this weekend on a mission to extend the operational life of NASA’s Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory by boosting it into a higher orbit.
The mission will carry Katalyst Space’s LINK servicing spacecraft, which is designed to rendezvous with the Swift Observatory and perform an orbital reboost as the satellite’s low Earth orbit continues to decay.
Demonstrating Commercial Satellite Servicing
According to NASA, the mission will mark the first attempt by a commercial robotic spacecraft to capture and service an uncrewed government satellite that was not originally designed for in-orbit servicing.
NASA awarded Katalyst Space a $30 million contract in September 2025 to develop the mission as part of efforts to advance commercial satellite servicing technologies.
Katalyst Space Chief Executive Officer Ghonhee Lee said the spacecraft was developed on an accelerated schedule.
“What the Katalyst team has accomplished in just eight months is extraordinary. The team designed, built, tested, and integrated a robotic spacecraft capable of performing one of the most ambitious commercial servicing missions ever attempted.”
Supporting the Swift Observatory
Launched in 2004, the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory studies high-energy astronomical events, including gamma-ray bursts.
NASA said the spacecraft’s orbit has been decaying more rapidly because of increased solar activity, making the reboost mission necessary to extend its scientific operations.
Final Planned Flight for Pegasus
The mission is scheduled to launch aboard a Pegasus XL rocket from Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands. Pegasus is an air-launched launch vehicle that is carried aloft by Northrop Grumman’s Stargazer L-1011 aircraft before being released for flight.
The launch is targeted for June 27 and is expected to be the first Pegasus mission since 2021 as well as the rocket’s final planned flight.
Northrop Grumman said Pegasus was selected because it met the mission’s orbital, schedule and budget requirements.
Chief Engineer Steve Hollo said the mission highlights the launch system’s flexibility.
“Pegasus has been instrumental in launching science satellites over the years, and doing this as a rapid response mission from Kwajalein Atoll truly highlights what Pegasus can do: quick assembly, testing, and global repositioning.”
“The latest mission features a complete avionics upgrade to modernize the rocket while carrying forward decades of technological heritage. Plus, not being tied to a single launch site gives us incredible flexibility and responsiveness that few other vehicles can match.”
