"The purpose of the tests was to assess how the LINK robotic servicing spacecraft, supplied by Katalyst Space Technologies, would withstand the forces of launch and the extremes of the orbital environment."
"It was only in August 2025 that NASA asked US industry for ideas on rescuing the observatory, whose orbit is decaying faster than expected. Katalyst was awarded the contract and has been working against the clock to launch its servicing spacecraft before Swift reaches the point of no return."
"In February 2026, NASA ended most science operations aboard Swift to keep the spacecraft in orbit long enough for the rescue mission. At the time, June 2026 was Katalyst's expected launch date and, thanks to the successful completion of testing, the mission remains on track."
"We're in an unusual situation where the schedule dictates how much risk we're willing to accept, rather than the other way around. The clock is ticking on Swift's descent, so we have to find a balance between testing and problem solving that gives the mission the best chance of success."
LINK, a robotic servicing spacecraft supplied by Katalyst Space Technologies, completed environmental testing at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. The tests evaluated how the spacecraft would handle launch forces and orbital extremes. NASA requested industry ideas for rescuing the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory after its orbit decayed faster than expected, and Katalyst received the contract. Most Swift science operations ended in February 2026 to keep the spacecraft in orbit for the rescue effort. LINK’s expected launch date remained June 2026 after successful testing. Northrop Grumman will integrate LINK into its Pegasus rocket in early June, with launch planned from the last airworthy L-1011 TriStar. LINK underwent vibration testing, thermal-vacuum testing in a space environment simulator, xenon ion thruster test firings, and robotic arm deployment.
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