NASA's Swift telescope gets a lifeline for 2026
NASA's Swift Observatory, up in space since 2004, is running out of time—it could crash back to Earth by late 2026 because its orbit is decaying and its descent is accelerating.
To save it, NASA is teaming up with Arizona-based Katalyst Space Technologies, with a total mission budget of $30 million to boost Swift higher and keep it working longer.
Fast-Track rescue launch coming soon
Katalyst plans to launch a robotic helper on a Pegasus XL rocket (which actually takes off from an airplane at 39,000 feet!) in June 2026.
This mission is moving fast—going from contract to launch in under a year—which is way quicker than usual for satellite repairs.
First-Ever robotic space capture by a private company
Once in space, the robot will carefully approach Swift, check it out, then grab it with robotic arms—a first for any private company working with a US government satellite.
If all goes well, Swift's orbit will be boosted to about 600km up, possibly letting it keep exploring the universe for decades more.