The Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory is at risk of uncontrolled reentry by mid-2026 due to a decaying orbit, prompting NASA to initiate a rescue mission later this month. Scheduled for launch on June 27, the mission will utilize the Lockheed L-1011 Stargazer, the last operational mothership of its kind, to deploy the LINK spacecraft.
LINK, developed by an Arizona-based startup, aims to boost Swift's altitude and stabilize its orbit. Swift, which has been in low-Earth orbit since its launch on November 20, 2004, studies gamma-ray bursts but has struggled with atmospheric drag, reducing its operational height.
The Pegasus XL rocket, which will carry LINK, is mounted beneath Stargazer, allowing for air-launch capabilities from an altitude of 40,000 feet (approximately 12,000 meters). This method has been successfully employed in nearly 50 launches over 32 years, highlighting its suitability for this critical mission.